Incident Details
During an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country flight, the pilot received clearance to descend from 9,000 feet to 7,000 feet over mountainous terrain. While executing the descent, the pilot reported encountering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and extreme turbulence. The turbulence caused a loss of control, resulting in the aircraft flipping into inverted flight. The pilot successfully recovered from the upset but could not recall the specific recovery actions taken. Following the event, the pilot landed the aircraft without any further issues.
Weather and Environmental Factors
According to a Safety Board meteorology specialist, weather data indicated a band of clouds in the immediate vicinity of the upset location, associated with mountain wave activity and locally generated turbulence. Another aircraft in the same area reported encountering moderate-to-severe turbulence shortly before the incident. No AIRMETs or SIGMETs were in effect for the region where the turbulence occurred.
Aircraft Condition
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. However, a post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to both wings, including wrinkling and tearing of the wing structure.