Background
The pilot departed on a cross-country flight with the airplane approximately 730 pounds above its maximum gross weight. The aircraft was cruising at 27,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot did not hold an instrument rating. The pilot-rated passenger in the right seat was instrument-rated but did not meet recency of experience requirements to act as pilot-in-command.
Flight Events
While at cruise altitude, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he observed weather on his radar along his route and ahead of his position, including thunderstorms with cloud tops up to 43,000 feet msl. The controller acknowledged the report but did not provide specifics about the size or strength of the precipitation area or cloud tops, nor did she solicit or disseminate pilot reports related to the conditions as required by FAA Order JO 7110.65X.
The airplane subsequently entered an area of heavy to extreme precipitation, likely a thunderstorm updraft, while in instrument meteorological conditions. Tracking information indicated that the airplane climbed about 300 feet, then entered a right, descending spiral and broke up in flight at high altitude.
Wreckage and Examination
The recovered wreckage was scattered along a path approximately 2.6 miles in length. Both wings separated, and most of the empennage was not located. Examination revealed no evidence of a pre-accident malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal operation. The airplane was likely about 148 pounds over the maximum allowable gross weight at the time of the accident.
Toxicology
Toxicology testing detected a small amount of ethanol in the pilot’s liver but not in muscle. After absorption, ethanol is uniformly distributed throughout all tissues and body fluids; therefore, the finding in one tissue but not another is most consistent with post-mortem production.
Contributing Factors
Hazardous weather avoidance is ultimately the pilot’s responsibility. The airplane was sufficiently equipped to provide a qualified pilot with the information necessary to navigate hazardous weather. However, the controller’s failure to provide the pilot with adequate and timely weather information as required by FAA Order JO 7110.65X contributed to the pilot’s inability to safely navigate the hazardous weather along his route of flight, resulting in the penetration of a thunderstorm and the subsequent loss of airplane control and inflight breakup.