Incident Overview
An aircraft cruising at 10,500 feet for several minutes informed air traffic control (ATC) that it was climbing to 12,500 feet due to visual flight rules (VFR). Shortly thereafter, the aircraft disappeared from the radar scope.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses on the ground reported hearing an unusual sound from the engine. Looking up, they observed the aircraft falling from the sky, with parts separating from it during the descent. One witness claimed to have seen the aircraft emerge from a cloud.
Weather Context
A squall line and heavy rain were reported in the area a short time later by people in the local vicinity.