What happened
During the final approach to Davenport Airport, a twin-engine aircraft experienced a catastrophic structural failure when the right wing separated from the fuselage. Following the detachment of the wing, the aircraft became uncontrollable and descended into an open field situated several miles away from the airfield. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were no survivors among the six fatalities recorded on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified the primary cause as a structural failure of the right wing during the descent phase. The failure was attributed to fatigue cracks within the airframe, specifically affecting the wing spars. Technical analysis revealed a pre-existing crack on the lower spar cap (WS-81) that had remained undetected for approximately six years. This condition was exacerbated by inadequate inspections performed by maintenance personnel, which allowed the fracture to progress until the right wing folded upward and detached from the aircraft.