What happened
On May 10, 2006, a pilot prepared for an instrument flight rules (IFR) trip from Cornelia, Georgia, to Pensacola, Florida. Prior to departure, the pilot received a weather briefing from an Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) that detailed significant thunderstorm activity between Atlanta and Mobile. The flight service specialist warned of embedded thunderstorms with tops reaching between 41,000 and 50,000 feet and suggested delaying departure. Despite these warnings, the pilot filed an IFR flight plan at 16,000 feet. While the specialist was working to obtain an IFR clearance from Atlanta Center, the pilot departed Cornelia without the required clearance.
Upon contacting Atlanta Center, the pilot was notified of several deviations, including incorrect altitude, heading, and transponder settings. During this period, the National Weather Service had issued several alerts, including a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and Convective SIGMETs, indicating a line of thunderstorms moving across the flight path with potential for 2-inch hail and 60-knot wind gusts.
Radar tracking showed the aircraft type at 16,000 feet traveling southwest at 09:19:48 CDT. Shortly after, the aircraft began a continuous left turn toward the northwest. At 09:20:48 CDT, the pilot notified Atlanta Center of an intention to perform a reverse maneuver. The final radar contact occurred at 09:20:59 CDT at an altitude of 15,600 feet. There were 0 fatalities reported in the source text, though the aircraft was lost. The wreckage was discovered the following day.
Findings
Investigation of the debris indicated that the right wing had separated approximately 9 feet 2 inches from the wing root. Analysis of the fracture surfaces suggested that the failure was caused by upward bending overstress of the right wing. Additionally, it was noted that while weather alerts were being broadcast over the frequency, controllers did not provide the pilot with the specific severe radar-depicted weather information visible on their own displays.