Accident Overview
An aircraft crashed while on a flight in an area where thunderstorm warnings were in effect. There were no known witnesses to the actual crash, but two or three local residents heard an aircraft engine near the estimated time of the accident.
Witness Accounts
One resident, located about a quarter mile from the crash site, reported hearing the engine approximately five minutes after a severe thunderstorm began. The resident stated that about two inches of rain fell in 20 minutes, visibility was restricted, and there were very high winds.
Weather Conditions
A local radio station in Haskell, Texas, recorded winds of 54 mph during the thunderstorm. The severe weather likely contributed to the difficult conditions at the time of the accident.
Examination Findings
An investigation revealed that the aircraft's right wing and both horizontal stabilators had separated in flight. Following the separation, the aircraft crashed in a 70- to 80-degree nose-down, inverted, left-wing-low attitude while at a high rate of speed. The wing and stabilator failures were indicative of overload separation.
Occupants
The aircraft, which was designed to carry four people, had five occupants, including one baby.