What happened
Ninety minutes into its flight, the aircraft was cruising level at 10,000 feet mean sea level on a southwest heading when air traffic control lost both radio and radar contact with the flight. Following the loss of communication, air traffic control observed primary radar targets continuing in a northerly direction before shifting to a northeasterly direction.
Search efforts located the wreckage near the area where radar contact had been lost. The cockpit, right wing, and engine were found impaled on a tree. The left wing and engine were situated within 200 feet east of the right wing. Debris from the accident was scattered northeast of the main wreckage for approximately 10,500 feet.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the fiberglass nose assembly had failed, though the reason for this failure remained undetermined. Investigators also confirmed that all applicable airworthiness directives regarding the forward baggage compartment door had been complied with.