So my post regarding the legality of that trip should not be construed as a possible contributor to the tragic accident. That wasn’t not my intent. What I saw online regarding the ownership of that aircraft and the fact that there seems to be evidence of some significant FAA fines is a separate matter, if true. I am focused on the cause. I flew the 601-3A for about 7 years so I am recall the systems, to some degree. My theory is that they may have been aware that the collector tank was not getting fuel to it so in that way the engines would flame out. Only the FDR would know. There was a “calmness” in the crew call to the tower that “they would not make the runway”. That’s as far as anyone can or should go in this speculation. As anyone of us can agree on is that this real cause will be interesting. I am also sorry for the loss of two pilots this way.
I believe that to be from the post crash fire. My opinion.