Aircraft Accident: Loss of Control in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (N578DC)

Incident Overview and Flight Sequence During the flight, the aircraft was operating in instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude of 800 feet above its service ceiling of 30,000 feet. No icing conditions were reported. The pilot communicated to the air traffic controller that he had lost his panel. Approximately 36 seconds after this report, the aircraft began a right roll, likely with the autopilot engaged. The roll increased to 105 degrees before returning to about 70 degrees, after which the aircraft entered a right descending turn. The aircraft continued this descending turn until it was lost from radar near the accident site. The aircraft impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude in an open field and was significantly fragmented.