What happened
Radar tracking indicated that the aircraft performed a standard climb from an airport situated at an elevation of 4,488 feet mean sea level. The flight path showed the aircraft reaching an altitude of 9,400 feet before initiating a left turn of approximately 90 degrees. During this maneuver, the aircraft continued to climb, reaching 9,700 feet as recorded by the next-to-last radar target. Twenty-nine seconds later, the final radar contact indicated a significant drop in altitude to 6,900 feet.
Witnesses observed the aircraft spinning in the air with pieces of the structure detaching before it struck the ground. A subsequent weather study revealed that convective clouds were present in the area, extending from 2,000 feet to 10,000 feet mean sea level.
The investigation
The physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the right wing and empennage had separated due to an aerodynamic overload failure mode. Calculations determined that the maximum design maneuvering speed for the aircraft at its existing weight was 123 knots.
Findings
The circumstances surrounding the event indicate that the pilot lost control of the aircraft while attempting to maneuver to avoid or reverse course out of the clouds. The airframe was overstressed during the subsequent recovery attempt, leading to structural separation.