December 19, 2011, Bryan, Texas, Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six

At about 2150 Central time, the airplane collided with terrain following an in-flight breakup. The instrument-rated private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. Review of ATC recordings revealed the pilot was diverting around an area of thunderstorms at the time of the accident. The pilot last reported that he was in “bad” weather and was going to try to get out of it.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airplane experienced an in-flight breakup and collided with terrain, fatally injuring the instrument-rated private pilot and four passengers during instrument conditions.
The pilot was diverting around an area of thunderstorms and last reported being in "bad" weather and attempting to get out of it before radio and radar contact was lost.
Wreckage was found spread over a significant area (approximately half a mile long), consistent with an in-flight breakup, with no post-crash fire.

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Review of ATC recordings revealed the pilot was diverting around an area of thunderstorms at the time of the accident. The pilot last reported that he was in “bad” weather and was going to try to get out of it. Following that transmission, radio and radar contact was lost. The airplane came to rest in a pasture, covering an area approximately ½-mile long by 200 feet wide. There was no post-crash fire.