What happened
While operating at cruising altitude and traveling from the east toward Indianapolis, the pilot of a twin engine airplane encountered extreme weather conditions. During the approach, the pilot notified Air Traffic Control regarding the presence of intense turbulence that resulted in a loss of control. Following this loss of stability, the aircraft entered a spin and descended into a field situated in Arlington.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were nine fatalities among the occupants, which included seven staff members from the United States Auto Club.
Findings
Investigations determined that the accident was caused by an uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with the ground after the pilot proceeded into regions known to contain severe turbulence. The following environmental factors contributed to the event:
- Turbulence linked to thunderstorm activity
- Presence of convective clouds and thunderstorms