Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control for undetermined reasons.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The mode c readout had been intermittent during the flight; however, the pilot did not report any problems with the flight instruments or aircraft systems. Upon arrival in the destination area, the pilot was issued radar vectors and instructed to initiate a descent from 6,000 to 3,000 feet. The initial stage of the descent appeared normal on radar. However, upon reaching 5,100 feet, the target went into the coast mode and radar and radio contact was lost. The wreckage was found 2 days later, spread out over 200 feet through dense woods about 2.5 miles along the route of flight from the point of last radar contact. Investigation did not reveal any evidence of airframe, engine or systems failure and there was no evidence that icing conditions existed during the descent phase of the flight.
Source record
Factual narrative
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