Aircraft Separation in Cruise After Gyro Failure (N1253Z)

Incident Overview and Pilot Reportage During cruise flight at 9,000 feet, the pilot contacted air traffic control (ATC) to report a gyro failure. The pilot stated that the artificial horizon was inoperative and that only the compass and airspeed indicator remained available. The pilot also indicated a need to remain above the clouds due to the loss of the artificial horizon. ATC observed the aircraft climbing to a higher altitude and advised the pilot that there was no traffic in the area and that maintaining altitude was not required if it could not be done. The pilot responded that he would attempt to determine which instruments could be relied upon and would try to return to 9,000 feet, noting that the weather was beginning to open up. When asked if he could descend to 7,000 feet and remain above the clouds, the pilot replied that he was almost in the clouds at that time. The aircraft subsequently separated into pieces and descended to the ground.