U-FITAQP: 24) IN FLIGHT BREAKUP
THE DTSB
The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot elected to takeoff and fly directly towards known sever weather and published convective activity. Upon entering the final area of severe weather, the aircraft broke apart in flight at approximately 9,000 MSL. The associated debris field was 1.1 miles long.
NTSB
Probable Cause issued 5/13/2026 – 23 months after the accident: The pilot’s loss of airplane control in flight due to spatial disorientation during a climb to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s continued flight into an area of known convective activity.
THE DTSB
The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft use proper preflight planning and good ADM in order to plan for wide circumnavigation of deadly storm areas. The DTSB recommends the AQP best practice of a flight delay when conditions are such that the flight cannot be made safely.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
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