Incident Overview
An aircraft sustained substantial damage during a weather encounter near Silver City, New Mexico. The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions, with icing and turbulence prevailing at the time. The pilot reported that rime ice accumulation prompted a climb from 15,000 feet to 17,000 feet, during which the autopilot was engaged.
Flight Details
While referencing a chart and a radio frequency, the pilot stated that the aircraft encountered severe turbulence and banked over 80 degrees. It is believed that the aircraft entered a split S maneuver during this event. Recovery was achieved at an altitude of 10,000 feet, and the pilot reported that numerous positive G-forces were experienced during the recovery.
Injuries and Damage
The aircraft was substantially damaged. A passenger on board sustained serious back injuries. No other injuries were reported in the official account.