What happened
Prior to departing on a flight from Galveston to Tyler, Texas, a pilot who was not instrument-rated was advised that VFR flight was not recommended. During the flight, the aircraft crashed along the route near Ratcliff, Texas.
Witnesses observed the aircraft maneuvering in the area before the accident occurred. According to these witnesses, there was an interruption in the sound of the engine, followed by the engine revving to a high power setting as the aircraft entered a dive and crashed. One witness estimated the aircraft was flying at approximately 1000' AGL when it was first sighted.
At Lufkin, located about 28 miles east-southeast of the site, the weather included 1200' broken clouds, 4 miles visibility with haze, fog, and drizzle. The investigation could not verify if the aircraft was maneuvering above or below the cloud base prior to the accident.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed that an in-flight breakup of the aircraft had occurred. Investigators found that both horizontal stabilators and the outboard section of the right wing had failed. These components were located approximately 400 feet short of the main wreckage impact site.