Flight Details
The purpose of the flight was to transport executives from Midway Airport in Chicago, Illinois, to Baltimore, Maryland. Departure from Midway occurred at 1645 local time.
Accident Sequence
When the flight was near Marion, Ohio, and shortly after it had traversed an area of pronounced thunderstorm activity, it dived violently and nearly vertically to the ground.
Investigation Findings
The destruction of the aircraft was of such extent that investigators could not determine if a structural failure occurred in flight. Consequently, the probable cause of this accident could not be established.
Official Probable Cause Statement
The Board is unable to determine the probable cause of this accident. However, circumstances suggest control difficulty of an undetermined nature during passage through an active developing line of thunderstorms.