[expatpat]

Sounds to me like he didn't realize the left AI had gone until it was too late. I'm surprised that a pilot flying commercial for-profit wouldn't be much more current with IFR. It also raises an interesting point: presumably he was flying with constant-speed props -- with fixed-pitch props, he would have easily heard the engine speed-up when he started to pitch down.

[Dan(9698)]

All airplanes more complex than a C172 (single engine, 4 passenger) have constant speed props. It is like an automatic transmission in that it adjusts to the load placed on it.

An airplane does not decend unless power is reduced, the trim is changed, or it goes into a fairly steep turn. An airplane does not decend without the pilot knowing about it except when they are disoriented. (banking steeply and starting a spiral)

I don't think that was a commercial airplane. Normally that kind of airplane is private or corporate.

Anyway it was the senator's son who was flying. From the comments about his log book, he did not fly professionally.

Private pilots flying twins have the worst record because they do not practice enough and aren't flying enough to stay sharp.