What happened
An instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country flight, spanning 928 nautical miles, ended in an in-flight breakup roughly 37 minutes after departure. While cruising at FL230, the twin-engine turboprop encountered moderate turbulence. Radar data from the final moments of flight showed the aircraft performing a 180-degree left turn while descending at a rapid rate of about 13,500 feet per minute.
Search efforts located the wreckage the following day within a heavily forested area. The debris field was distributed across a region measuring roughly three miles in length and one mile in width. No eyewitnesses were present to observe the accident as it occurred.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage revealed that the aircraft's structural design limits had been surpassed. Specifically, the airframe exhibited fractures resulting from overload failure. Prior to the breakup, the aircraft was operating at a speed approximately 15 to 20 knots higher than the maximum airspeed permitted for flight in moderate turbulence. Additionally, the aircraft was found to be overweight, exceeding the maximum takeoff weight specified in its type certificate data sheet by approximately 1,038 pounds.