What happened
Prior to departure, the pilot obtained a weather briefing that highlighted the presence of heavy rain and thunderstorms along the intended flight path. This briefing included a severe thunderstorm watch, noting potential for hail and wind gusts reaching 65 knots. The pilot operated under IFR flight rules and departed at 11:48 CST.
During the flight, while cruising at 15,000 feet MSL, the pilot requested a 10-degree left deviation to avoid cloud formations. Shortly after receiving clearance, air traffic control observed the aircraft descending to approximately 500 feet. Although the pilot acknowledged instructions to return to the assigned altitude, all communication with the aircraft ceased immediately following this exchange.
The aircraft subsequently suffered an in-flight breakup and crashed. A witness reported seeing a funnel cloud in the vicinity of the aircraft as it descended through the clouds prior to the impact.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the left outboard wing panel had detached due to positive overload failure. The detached component was recovered approximately one mile from the primary crash site. Investigators found no evidence of pre-impact fatigue in the structural components. The incident resulted in two fatalities.