What happened
The aircraft was engaged in a cross-country flight when the pilot received radio advisories regarding severe weather conditions along the planned route. At 16:13 CDT, air traffic control informed the pilot of a line of radar returns approximately 10 miles ahead. The pilot assessed the situation, noting what appeared to be a gap in the weather activity just north of their position, and elected to continue the flight rather than divert.
Approximately eight minutes later, at 16:21 CDT, the pilot declared an emergency. Initial reports indicated a catastrophic failure, with the engine quitting and an aileron separating from the airframe. The aircraft's altitude had dropped significantly from its cruising level of 10,500 feet to 5,000 feet. Roughly 25 seconds after the initial emergency declaration, the pilot reported that the aircraft was becoming difficult to control. At this point, the aircraft was at 2,500 feet and descending rapidly. The pilot confirmed that the right wing had separated from the fuselage.
The investigation
A thorough examination of the wreckage site provided critical insights into the sequence of events leading to the accident. The physical evidence indicated that the aircraft impacted the ground in a flat spin. Significant structural components were missing from the primary crash site, including the empennage, the right aileron, and a portion of the outer wing panel located forward of the main spar. These separated parts were not recovered during the investigation.
Findings
The loss of control was directly linked to the severe weather conditions encountered by the aircraft. The pilot's decision to continue through the area with radar returns likely contributed to the structural failure. The separation of major flight control surfaces and the wing rendered the aircraft uncontrollable, leading to the fatal impact.