Flight Progress
The aircraft with registration N999YP was en route when air traffic control (ATC) advised the pilot of VFR traffic at the one o'clock position, 12 miles ahead on a northwest heading. The pilot acknowledged the advisory but reported no visual contact and stated that the weather was slightly hazy. Shortly afterward, ATC cleared the traffic, and the pilot acknowledged. This was the last transmission from N999YP.
Witness Observation
At approximately the same time, the pilot of a PA-28 aircraft, on a heading of 150 degrees, observed an aircraft (N999YP) at his one o'clock position on an easterly heading, about 1 mile ahead. He reported that the aircraft was in a shallow nose-down pitch attitude and appeared to be traveling very fast. As the aircraft moved to his eleven o'clock position, it came apart in the air at an altitude of approximately 5,000 to 5,500 feet.
Wreckage Examination
Investigators found the wreckage fragmented and scattered over a 3,000-foot area in an east-west direction. The stabilators had separated from the empennage, and the wings had separated from the fuselage. The wing center spar was found bent and had failed from overload.
Weather Conditions
A weather study indicated probable light to moderate turbulence at 7,000 to 8,000 feet mean sea level. Seat belts and shoulder harnesses were found unfastened and undamaged.