20010908023569A

(.19) On September 8, 2001, at 1554 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301, N8398Z, experienced an in-flight break-up in Byhalia, Mississippi. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross country flight to romeoville, Illinois. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated from panola county airport in batesville, Mississippi at 1540. According to witnesses, when they observed the airplane it was in level flight below the clouds. They said that as they observed the airplane they saw the left wing separated and strike the tail section. The airplane's main fuselage came to rest less then a half mile from their location in a bean field with debris falling and nearly striking the witnesses. The witnesses stated that there was lightning to the north and that the weather in their location was windy but there was no rain or thunderstorms. Examination of the wreckage on-scene found the left wing separated but within 200 feet of the main wreckage, the remainder of the wreck age was located within a one-half mile radius. The airplane was recovered and moved to a secure location for further examination. (-23) acft N8398Z departed (0M6) enroute to (lot). Two weather briefings were obtained from gwo afss, MS prior to flt. VMC conditions existed with a forecast for wide spread trw. The pilot was briefed that he would have to deviate around weather for the first 150 miles. The flt was VFR. Memphis approach was contacted for flt following & class b airspace clearance. The acft reached 7,500' MSL on a northerly heading as observed by ATC, then climbed to 8,100' MSL, & back to 7,700' MSL, then rapidly descended to 3,900'MSL, radio & radar contact were lost. The acft impacted the ground near Byhalia, MS at approx. 15:54 local time. The 2 onboard were fatally injured. Witnesses saw the acft descending out of control with the (l) wing separated from the acft. Investigation showed the (l) wing separated in flt along with 6' of the (r) wing, vert stab & stabilator. (.4) history of flight: on September 8, 2001, at 1554 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-301, N8398Z, experienced an in-flight break-up while maneu vering near a thunderstorm in Byhalia, Mississippi. The airplane was registered to midwest corporate air, and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91, and visual flight rules. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross country flight to romeoville, Illinois. The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated from panola county airport in batesville, Mississippi, at 1540. According to witnesses, when they observed the airplane it was in level flight below the clouds. They said that as they observed the airplane they saw the left wing separate and strike the tail section. The main fuselage came to rest less then a half mile from their location in a bean field with debris falling and nearly striking the witnesses. The witnesses stated that there was lightning to the north and that the weather in their location was windy but there was no rain or thunderstorms in their area at the time of the accident. Examination of radar data provided by the memphis, Tennessee air traffic control tower revealed that between 15:42:02 and 15:53:01 the airplane made about seven altitude, airspeed and heading changes. The most significant occurred between 15:52:43 and 15:53:01. Within this 18 second time frame, the airplane descended from 7,700 feet above ground level (AGL) to 3,900 feed AGL and slowed to 41 knots airspeed.