What happened
On a flight originating from West Houston Airport (IWS) and destined for Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport (RVS), an aircraft operated by H-S Air LP encountered severe weather conditions. The flight was being conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR) during a period of instrument meteorological conditions. While cruising at approximately 23,000 feet, the aircraft experienced an in-flight encounter with weather that led to the separation of airframe components.
Radar tracking data indicated the aircraft was initially maintaining a heading of roughly 20 degrees. At approximately 21:20 UTC, the aircraft began a right turn, changing its heading to about 90 degrees. Shortly thereafter, the radar track recorded an erratic and steep descent. The final radar contact occurred at 21:22 UTC at an altitude of 2,800 feet. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground near Wells, Texas, resulting in a fire and significant damage to all major structural components. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing an explosion followed by the sight of a fireball descending through the clouds.
Findings
- The pilot, who was the only person on board, sustained fatal injuries.
- The in-flight separation of airframe components during a weather encounter was the primary factor leading to the loss of control and subsequent crash of the unspecified aircraft type (registration not provided in source, though operator is H-S Air LP).