What happened
During an enroute flight, the crew faced deteriorating weather conditions characterized by thunderstorm activity and significant turbulence. While maintaining an estimated altitude of 5,000 feet, the twin-engine aircraft lost control. The plane subsequently dove into the ground, impacting a field situated four miles south of Sweetwater. This accident resulted in the fatalities of all 25 occupants aboard the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations indicated that the incident was precipitated by severe turbulence which led to the failure of the elevators and stabilizers during flight. Due to this structural compromise, the aircraft became unflyable, making a controlled landing impossible.