Twin-Engine Aircraft Crashes in Lake Near Leeville, Both Occupants Killed (N724N)

Accident Summary

On a night flight from Houston, Texas, to Tampa, Florida, the aircraft was at cruising altitude when the pilot encountered poor weather conditions, including icing. The pilot subsequently suffered spatial disorientation. The twin-engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and partially disintegrated in mid-air before crashing into a lake near Leeville. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was an uncontrolled descent and subsequent airframe failure in-flight after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation. Contributing factors reported include: the pilot exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft; incorrect weather briefing; icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain; failure of flight control surfaces including the horizontal stabilizer and its attachments; failure of wing spars; overload failure; and separation in flight. The aircraft came to rest in water.