Background
Before departure, the pilot-rated passenger, who was not instrument rated, obtained two weather briefings. During the first briefing, she was advised that VFR flight was not recommended. The second briefing was not completed, and she expressed concern about the weather conditions. She then briefed her father, also a non-instrument-rated pilot, about the weather, adding that she did not feel comfortable with the conditions. The father subsequently called Bridgeport Automated Flight Service Station to request the cloud tops.
Flight Details
The airplane departed, and the pilot requested radar traffic advisories from approach control. According to radar beacon data, during the last 37 seconds of the flight, the airplane turned left approximately 180 degrees and descended from 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl) to 5,600 feet msl. The airplane then entered an uncontrolled descent, and the right wing separated. The pilot had a total of 350.0 hours of flight experience, and the pilot-rated passenger had 90.2 hours.
Witness Reports
At the time of the accident, another pilot in the area reported instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) from 6,000 feet msl to 8,000 feet msl and moderate turbulence.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of structural failures due to fatigue.