Incident Overview
An aircraft registered as N8427A encountered severe difficulties during a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight to Hickory, North Carolina. According to radar data obtained during the investigation, the airplane was cruising at 11,500 feet when it began a series of oscillations. These oscillations led to a descent rate of 15,000 feet per minute.
Weather Briefings
Prior to departure, the pilot received two weather briefings. The briefings included information about an approaching cold front. The Flight Service Station (FSS) briefer reportedly told the pilot, "If you go now, it'll be fine." The pilot did not file a flight plan.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses near the accident site reported seeing the aircraft descend out of the bottom of a low cloud ceiling. They stated that the wings and empennage were separating just prior to the ground impact.
Pilot Qualifications
The pilot was not instrument rated, meaning the pilot was not qualified to fly solely by reference to instruments in reduced visibility or cloud conditions.
Investigation
The investigation utilized radar data to reconstruct the aircraft's flight path. No further details about the cause of the oscillations or the structural failure have been released.