The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted an open field at about 1522 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed. The commercial pilot was fatally injured.
Shortly after reaching its 16,000-foot cruise altitude, the pilot reported “engine problems” and requested to divert. At 1513, the pilot reported the airplane “lost engine power.” The pilot reported “oil all over the windshield” and that he “could not see a thing” and that a forced landing was imminent.
The airplane’s main wreckage came to rest 108 feet 8 inches from the initial impact point. Examination revealed a composite piece of the tail was located about 510 feet from the initial impact site; security video obtained from a nearby facility revealed the airplane impacted the ground in a left-wing-down, slightly inverted attitude.
Examination of the engine revealed the propeller flange remained in place; however, the propeller had not been not located at the time of this writing.
