At about 1255 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed following impact with terrain. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Four witnesses observed the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers for approximately 15 minutes at an altitude too high to make out details. They observed the airplane pull up vertically and perform a wing-over or roll-type maneuver. The airplane then entered a spin, which continued until the airplane impacted the ground. A post-crash fire erupted immediately after impact.