Overview
Two witnesses located in another airplane reported observing N65906 in level flight on a southerly heading at an estimated 1,000 feet below their altitude. The airplane then initiated a right turn and suddenly pitched nose-down to a near vertical attitude. The nose continued past vertical to between 110 and 120 degrees, without spinning. After losing about 75 percent of its altitude, an object approximately the size of a control surface separated from the airplane, after which the aircraft began to spin. Approximately two to three seconds later, the airplane impacted the ground.
Wreckage Examination
The outboard portion of the left wing, measuring 10 feet in length with the aileron still attached, was recovered approximately 150 feet east of the main wreckage. An outboard section of the right aileron, two feet in length, was located about 30 feet from the left wing portion. Pieces of the left and right fiberglass wing tips were found about 800 feet east of the main wreckage, along with papers from inside the airplane. The right wing remained attached to the airframe but was deformed downward and rearward. Flap actuator gear measurements indicated the flaps were in the 30-degree down position. The left wing had failed downward and separated about 20 inches outboard of the wing strut attachment.
Components including the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, aft fuselage, a fractured piece of the elevator horn, fractured pieces of the control yokes, and the upper end of the right wing strut were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for further examination. Visual examination of the fractured faces revealed features typical of overstress separation. No evidence of fatigue cracking or corrosion damage was noted. No preexisting airframe failure was found that would have led to loss of control or inflight breakup.
Radar Data
Recorded radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Daytona Beach Approach Control showed the accident flight maintained 3,300 feet from 1221:45 until 1223:27 on a southerly heading. Between 1223:32 and 1224:18, the flight maintained 3,400 feet while continuing southerly, and calibrated airspeed (derived from radar groundspeed) dropped to 59 knots at 1224:15. From 1224:22 to 1224:41, the flight maintained 3,500 feet with calibrated airspeed increasing to 80 knots at 1224:30. At 1224:45, the flight was at 3,300 feet; at 1224:50, at 3,200 feet with calibrated airspeed decreasing to 65 knots. At 1224:55, the flight was at 3,300 feet, airspeed 60 knots; at 1224:59, 3,300 feet, airspeed about 58 knots; at 1225:04, 3,200 feet, airspeed 53 knots. The flight maintained a southerly heading throughout. No further radar data was recorded. The airplane flown by the two witnesses was to the east of the accident airplane at 4,400 feet.
Post Mortem Examination
Post mortem examination of the pilot, seated in the right front seat, and the left front seat passenger showed no findings considered causal to the accident. Toxicology studies were negative for alcohol, drugs, and carbon monoxide.