December 14, 2012, Amarillo, Texas – Beech Model E90 King Air

At about 1805 Central time, the airplane impacted terrain following an in-flight break-up. The commercial pilot and single passenger were fatally injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Instrument conditions prevailed. According to communications and radar data, ATC cleared the airplane to FL210 and gave the pilot permission to deviate east of the planned route for weather and traffic avoidance. Shortly thereafter, the airplane appeared to turn to the north and the pilot did not respond to the controller’s radio transmission about the turn. The airplane’s outer wing sections, engines, elevators, and vertical and horizontal stabilizers were separated from the fuselage and located in several directions from the main wreckage, at distances up to one-half mile.

Key Takeaways:

• A commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured when their airplane experienced an in-flight break-up and impacted terrain under instrument meteorological conditions.
• ATC had cleared the airplane to FL210 and authorized an eastward deviation for weather, but the aircraft subsequently turned north and the pilot became unresponsive to communications.
• The in-flight break-up was confirmed by a widespread debris field, with major aircraft components found dispersed up to a half-mile from the main wreckage.

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