General Aviation Accident Involving Thunderstorm Penetration and Cabin Fire (N320DB)

Flight Details and Departure Conditions The pilot-in-command departed the Denver metro area carrying passengers for a vacation in Indiana. No flight plan was filed, and there was no record of a preflight weather brief. The flight progressed without any known difficulty until reaching the Colorado/Kansas border. ## Weather Encounter and Flight Data At the Colorado/Kansas border, the pilot requested and received weather observations for locations ahead after observing a large area of cloud buildup. The pilot was advised of Level 2 rain showers with embedded thunderstorm activity along the frontal boundary. NTAP data displayed no appreciable alteration of ground track subsequent to the weather brief. However, the data indicated large changes in altitudes, possibly indicating severe turbulence. The last data indicated a 12,000 feet per minute descent. ## Impact and Post-Crash Evidence The aircraft impacted inverted in a furrowed field. Evidence indicated lightning strikes to the cockpit and wing and a cabin fire. Radar data indicated the aircraft penetrated an area of Level Four thunderstorms. Portions of the aircraft were found strewn over a one-mile area.