What happened
While operating under instrument flight rules on a business-related cross-country mission, the pilot was engaged in frequent communication with air traffic control regarding weather avoidance and routing adjustments. The flight was actively maneuvering to bypass areas of convective activity. After experiencing moderate turbulence and precipitation, along with temperatures suitable for structural icing, the pilot indicated that the aircraft had entered an area identified as clear by the onboard stormscope.
During this period, the controller observed the aircraft descending 1,000 feet below its assigned cruise altitude of 17,000 feet. Following this descent, the altitude readout for the aircraft ceased to be visible on the controller's display. Shortly after the loss of altitude data, the aircraft vanished from radar surveillance. Search efforts located the wreckage in the vicinity of the final radar position. The investigation revealed that the aircraft type impacted the ground in a near vertical descent. There were four fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
- The aircraft was navigating through weather systems and attempting to avoid storm cells.
- The crew encountered rain, turbulence, and icing conditions prior to the loss of altitude.
- The aircraft experienced a sudden, near vertical descent leading to the impact.