What happened
On the day of the accident, a flight crew was operating an aircraft from Marianna, Florida, to Lockhart, Texas. While flying at approximately 8,000 feet in the vicinity of the Crestview (KCEW) VOR near Baker, Florida, the aircraft encountered level 4 thunderstorms. At 13:57:40, the aircraft was positioned about 3.7 miles southeast of the Crestview VORTAC on a course of approximately 285 degrees. The pilot requested a heading change to 180 degrees to avoid weather, which was approved by North Approach air traffic control.
At 13:58:01, the aircraft began a descent and a left turn while entering the eastern edge of level 4 weather returns. The last radar contact with the aircraft occurred at 13:58:54. The wreckage was dispersed over an area of approximately nineteen acres, with the main fuselage located in a wooded area roughly 6.7 miles west of Bob Sikes Airport. The debris path extended approximately 0.4 miles on a northwest heading, including the vertical fin, rudder, and left aileron.
The investigation
The investigation examined the airframe, engines, and flight controls, finding no evidence of pre-accident failures or malfunctions in any airplane systems. There was no evidence of a post-crash fire at the main wreckage site or secondary locations, and no patterns indicative of an in-flight fire were identified. Radar data confirmed that level 4 weather activity was present on both sides of the aircraft at the time communications were lost.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered level 4 thunderstorms during its flight.
- The air traffic controller did not issue a specific weather advisory to the pilot, as he believed the pilot was aware of the conditions and managing the flight accordingly.