What happened
While operating under instructions to descend to 12,000 feet and maneuver around a large storm cell, the aircraft encountered intense level two and three thunderstorm activity. During this period of severe weather, the aircraft suffered an in-flight breakup that caused debris to be distributed across a four-mile radius.
The structural failure involved the separation of the empennage and the right wing from the main fuselage. Additionally, the left wing spar failed at the same point as the right side; however, unlike the right wing, the left wing remained attached to the aircraft body following the event.
There were three fatalities recorded in the accident. An investigation into the wreckage revealed no evidence of prior mechanical malfunctions, metal fatigue, or pre-existing structural failures within the airframe.
Findings
Investigators determined that the primary cause of the destruction was the pilot's decision to maintain flight through known hazardous weather conditions, which subjected the airframe to loads exceeding its design stress limits. This resulted in the failure of the wing spars and the subsequent loss of the right wing and stabilizers.
Several contributing elements were identified during the inquiry:
- The aircraft was operated at speeds exceeding the manufacturer's recommended maneuvering speed (Va).
- The pilot lacked sufficient experience or familiarity with this specific aircraft model.
- The presence of active thunderstorms provided the severe environmental conditions that led to the structural failure.