What happened
Shortly after departing on a VFR cross-country flight, the pilot contacted air traffic control to request flight following services. Approximately seven minutes into the flight, the pilot inquired about the cloud ceiling. Four minutes later, the pilot requested a radar vector. When questioned regarding the request, the pilot stated that the aircraft was lost in fog.
Upon being asked for his current heading, the pilot responded, "I can't tell, I think we're upside-down." The controller instructed the pilot to execute a right turn, but advised him to stop the turn several seconds later. During this period, the aircraft completed a left turn, with its altitude fluctuating between 4,500 and 4,700 feet. The pilot then repeatedly stated that they could not see.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing a loud sound and observed the wings of the aircraft descending to the ground detached from the fuselage. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An examination of both wings revealed fracture signatures consistent with an in-flight separation caused by upward, or positive, forces. All examined fracture surfaces on both wings and their respective wing struts showed evidence of overload. No pre-separation failures or mechanical malfunctions were identified during the inspection.
Findings
Prior to the flight, the pilot did not contact any flight service stations or utilize DUATS to obtain a weather briefing. While a relative of the pilot indicated that the pilot had checked the weather and believed conditions were acceptable above 2,500 feet, the actual weather in the vicinity included low clouds and visibility obscured by light to heavy rain. AIRMETs for IFR conditions and mountain obscuration had been issued prior to the accident.