Accident Details
Approximately six hours before reporting for duty, the pilot visited a doctor and was diagnosed with gastritis, reflux symptoms, and fatigue. Just before departure on the accident flight, the pilot told a fellow company pilot about feeling ill and expressed concern about potential repercussions from the company if he grounded himself. A few minutes before losing contact with air traffic control, the pilot radioed the same fellow pilot, who was flying another company aircraft on the same route, stating, "I don't feel so good...I feel like I'm going to toss my cookies."
The aircraft disappeared from radar, and wreckage was located about 11 hours later. The pilot was found fatally injured inside the wreckage.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the accident site revealed a wreckage distribution indicative of inflight separation of the right wing and the horizontal stabilator. Subsequent inspection showed that the wing and stabilator separations resulted from overstress. No evidence of mechanical issues was found beyond the separated components.
Investigators reconstructed the pilot's activities before the accident and determined that his schedule during the two-day rest period prior to the flight was inconsistent with his typical night air cargo duties.