What happened
On August 10, 2023, a Cessna P210N, registration N210JT, was flying an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport in Florida to Thomaston-Upson County Airport in Georgia. During the flight, the pilot requested deviations to avoid weather, and air traffic control (ATC) instructed the pilot to descend to 8,000 feet and eventually to a heading of 080 degrees for weather avoidance.
At approximately 10:01 EDT, an Atlanta approach controller warned the pilot of heavy to extreme precipitation located at the aircraft's 2 o'clock position, about 5 miles away. The pilot acknowledged the warning and stated he would begin his turn. However, instead of turning left toward the 080-degree heading, the aircraft made a slight right turn to a heading of approximately 340 degrees.
At 10:04 EDT, the aircraft began a tightening right turn and a rapid descent from approximately 11,925 feet. The flight track data ended at 10:05 EDT, showing the aircraft at 6,200 feet agl. The aircraft struck trees in a heavily wooded area, resulting in 1 fatality.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the aircraft had suffered an in-flight breakup. The horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and elevator trim separated from the airplane during flight, and portions of the vertical stabilizer and left wing were located away from the main impact site. All observed fractures in the control cables and structural components were consistent with overload failure.
An examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation. The aircraft was equipped with a Garmin GWX 68 radar and an L3 WX-500 Stormscope; however, due to thermal damage and the condition of the wreckage, investigators could not determine if these systems were operational or in use at the time of the accident.
Weather analysis showed that the area was under a Convective SIGMET for thunderstorms with tops reaching FL450. Surveillance radar confirmed light to extreme reflectivity along the aircraft's flight path near the time of the accident.
Findings
- The pilot continued flight into a known area of adverse weather.
- The aircraft penetrated a severe thunderstorm, leading to a loss of control.
- The aircraft experienced an in-flight breakup due to structural overload.
- The pilot did not receive a weather briefing from preflight providers on the day of the accident.
- The pilot's failure to comply with ATC instructions to turn toward a 080-degree heading likely caused the aircraft to enter the area of convective activity.