What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)The radar data observed N7134J flying on a southerly course over lake Michigan at 3000 MSL. Weather in the area was observed to be; 25,000 feet overcast; visibility 3 miles in mist; temperature -1 degrees c; dew point -2 degrees c. an AIRMET called for icing and severe turbulence in that area at the time of the accident. There was no communication between the airplane and ATC after canceling their IFR flight plan shortly after departure. The flight path revealed an approximately 90 degree right turn towards the west with a descent from 3,100 feet MSL to 1,900 feet MSL within 14 seconds when radar contact was lost. To date, the entire wreckage was never located in lake Michigan. Both pilots' autopsies revealed massive injuries to the head, trunk, and extremities; these injuries indicate a fairly high-energy impact.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)THE RADAR DATA OBSERVED N7134J FLYING ON A SOUTHERLY COURSE OVER LAKE MICHIGAN AT 3000 MSL. WEATHER IN THE AREA WAS OBSERVED TO BE; 25,000 FEET OVERCAST; VISIBILITY 3 MILES IN MIST; TEMPERATURE -1 DEGREES C; DEW POINT -2 DEGREES C. AN AIRMET CALLED FOR ICING AND SEVERE TURBULENCE IN THAT AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE AND ATC AFTER CANCELING THEIR IFR FLIGHT PLAN SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE. THE FLIGHT PATH REVEALED AN APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN TOWARDS THE WEST WITH A DESCENT FROM 3,100 FEET MSL TO 1,900 FEET MSL WITHIN 14 SECONDS WHEN RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. TO DATE, THE ENTIRE WRECKAGE WAS NEVER LOCATED IN LAKE MICHIGAN. BOTH PILOTS' AUTOPSIES REVEALED MASSIVE INJURIES TO THE HEAD, TRUNK, AND EXTREMITIES; THESE INJURIES INDICATE A FAIRLY HIGH-ENERGY IMPACT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N7134J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.