Beechcraft V35-T Bonanza | N47WT

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot failed to sufficiently circumnavigate an area of convective activity containing known storm cells, and failed to reduce his aircraft speed to at or below maneuvering speed (Va) prior to sustaining airframe loads that exceeded the structural limits of the airframe. The aircraft first lost pitch control as both ruddervators departed the aircraft individually, then eventually both wings. The fuselage was found generally intact with all three deceased still in their approximate respective seated positions. All three had likely been alive and conscious for the 90 second fall from altitude.

Probable Cause issued 6/10/2026 – 25 months after the accident: The pilot’s flight into convective weather, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation and a subsequent inflight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the lack of accurate weather intensity depiction on the controller’s display, which limited the controller’s ability to warn the pilot of hazardous weather along the route of flight.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft use sufficient preflight planning, ADM, and policy to avoid these known areas of embedded storm cell activity, and that all pilots should carry sufficient fuel to afford a wide berth around such activity, with special emphasis on avoidance at all cost. The DTSB also recommends that pilots be aware of procedures to be used in moderate to severe turbulence that include a drastic speed reduction well below Va, and allowing wings level, and allow altitude deviations to occur with no effort placed on maintaining altitude during this type of scenario.