What happened
At approximately 20:27, an instrument-rated private pilot established radio communications with an air traffic controller at an Air Route Traffic Control Center radar position. During this exchange, the controller provided the current altimeter setting. Shortly thereafter, the controller observed the aircraft enter an area of weather.
At approximately 20:36, the air traffic controller notified the pilot that radar contact had been lost. The pilot did not respond, and no further radio communications were established with the flight. A witness, a commercial pilot, reported seeing the aircraft emerge from clouds, attempt a recovery, strike the ground, and immediately burst into flames.
The accident resulted in 3 fatal injuries to the pilot and two passengers. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the terrain and by a post-impact fire.
The investigation
Radar data from the National Track Analysis Program, plotted on Doppler weather radar reflectivity depictions, indicated that the aircraft entered an area of weather consistent with level three to level four thunderstorm activity. While surface observations indicated VFR weather was present, the flight encountered severe convective activity.
An on-scene examination of the wreckage was conducted. Investigators examined a gyroscope and its housing from a flight instrument, which revealed rotational scoring. The turn coordinator was found destroyed, and its face indicated the aircraft was in a right bank turn at the time of the event.
A section of the right wingtip was located near a ground scar, and the navigation light on that wingtip contained green media. The left wing was found detached from the fuselage. An inspection of the control cables showed all breaks were consistent with structural overload. No pre-impact anomalies were detected in the airframe or engine.