Flight Details
A non-instrument rated pilot was conducting a flight from Plant City, Florida, to Clarksville, Tennessee. No flight plan had been filed.
Weather Conditions
Local witnesses reported black clouds in the accident area, with the ceiling estimated at about 800 feet. The wind was from the northwest and gusty.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft was observed exiting the base of the clouds in a nose-down spiral. An in-flight breakup occurred, with wreckage scattered over a 1500-foot area.
Wreckage Examination
The right wing, both stabilators, and the vertical stabilizer were found at a remote distance from the main wreckage. Upward deformation was found where the right wing and stabilators had separated.
Maintenance History
Records show that on December 30, 1993, maintenance personnel had replaced both rear fuselage-to-wing attach point brackets. The rear attach point brackets were found in place for both wings (on both sides of the fuselage), but neither the right nor left wing rear attach bolt was found. No sign of stretching or stress was found at the bolt holes in the brackets.
Pilot Information
The pilot had accumulated 18 hours of flight time in preparation for an instrument rating and had passed the written test, but had not taken a practical test for the rating.