What happened
While operating under instructions to climb to 14,000 feet, the aircraft began exhibiting significant discrepancies regarding its altitude. Air traffic controllers made multiple inquiries concerning the flight's height, noting that the pilot's reported altitudes were consistently 10,000 feet lower than what was being displayed on radar. Following an instruction to cease altitude squawk, the pilot's final communication indicated the aircraft had reached its assigned level of 14,000 feet.
For roughly 45 minutes, the flight continued toward its destination. However, controllers then observed the flight path deviate significantly, first turning 45 degrees to the right and heading northwest, followed by a 90-degree left turn, and finally a 180-degree right turn. Attempts to contact the pilot were unsuccessful, and the aircraft subsequently disappeared from radar coverage.
An investigation of the wreckage in the mountainous region showed that the aircraft had broken apart in flight, with debris scattered across an area of approximately 0.3 nautical miles. The physical evidence indicated that the right wing separated from its root in an upward direction due to structural overload. Additionally, the right horizontal stabilizer detached, the left stabilizer was twisted, and both engines separated from the wings during the event.
Findings
Post-crash inspections of the airframe and engines showed no signs of mechanical malfunction or failure. While the altimeters were too damaged for testing, medical examinations of the pilot revealed severe coronary artery disease, specifically a 95% narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery caused by plaque, along with a complete blockage from a thrombus. The pilot also had moderate diabetes. Investigators noted that the pilot's behavior prior to the accident was consistent with hypoxia-induced incapacitation.