I’m guessing fuel exhaustion. No fire. They were on approach after a 1000 mile flight. Relatively heavy load.
Aircraft was actively for sale and engines both had 1170 hours on a 1600 hour TBO.
Very sad.
Yes, it does sound like fuel exhaustion. I’m sure the ATC tapes will show more, as the pilot most likely radioed he was low on fuel, and maybe even requested an emergency response at the airport. Very sad, indeed.
Wow, running out of fuel...how awful. Why in the world wouldn’t a pilot stop a couple hundred miles sooner to top off? The stakes are so high.
Flightaware says it was 428 miles.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N727RP/history/20180805/1723Z/KCCR/KSNA
It’s interesting that a 757 was right in front of him. They are notorious for their wake turbulence.
It landed at 12:28
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL1918/history/20180805/1501Z/KATL/KSNA
video shows plane nosedive before deadly crash in Southern California
Dash Cam A: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-crash-santa-ana-california-video-shows-fall-victims/
Dash Cam B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfr6QaKAMuE