Aircraft Disintegration After Thunderstorm Penetration (N7065Y)

Incident Overview and Weather Conditions Following a complete weather briefing that forecast thunderstorms along the route, the pilot encountered and attempted to fly through thunderstorm activity. The pilot had been given clearance to deviate as necessary for weather avoidance. Radar data from a manually digitized radar and the National Track Analysis Program indicated that the aircraft penetrated a very strong weather echo, classified as VIP level four. This echo contained a thunderstorm with very heavy rain showers, moderate to severe turbulence, and up and down drafts. ## Loss of Control and Structural Failures Recorded radar data indicated that airplane control was lost at its cruising altitude of 8,000 feet. The outboard sections of both wings, most of the horizontal stabilizer, and pieces of windshield and cabin windows were found in a one-half to one-mile arc west of the main wreckage. All failures were determined to be overload. ## Casualties and Survival The ten-month-old and four-year-old children in the rear seat were restrained in child safety seats and survived.