What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) At 1620 UTC, while at FL200, the instrument rated private pilot of N5485W advised minneapolis air route traffic control center (zau-artcc) "losing my gyros, I need to get down." 1 minute later pilot reports "ok but we had a problem a minute ago." The zau controller tries to find a VFR weather destination airport. At 1622 UTC, the aircraft reports in the clouds and at 1623 UTC, the pilot states "we are going into a spin." Contact was lost at that time. On scene investigation found N5485W without empennage or wings (approx. N44 02.613 W089 10.337). The empennage was found (approx. N44 02.782 W089 10.383) missing the elevator, right stabilizer, 1/2 of the left stabilizer and upper 2/3 of the rudder. The left wing was found (approx N44 02.877 W089 10.280) missing the aileron and flap. The right wing was found (approx N44 03.077 W089 10.359) missing the aileron and flap.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AT 1620 UTC, WHILE AT FL200, THE INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT OF N5485W ADVISED MINNEAPOLIS AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ZAU-ARTCC) "LOSING MY GYROS, I NEED TO GET DOWN." 1 MINUTE LATER PILOT REPORTS "OK BUT WE HAD A PROBLEM A MINUTE AGO." THE ZAU CONTROLLER TRIES TO FIND A VFR WEATHER DESTINATION AIRPORT. AT 1622 UTC, THE AIRCRAFT REPORTS IN THE CLOUDS AND AT 1623 UTC, THE PILOT STATES "WE ARE GOING INTO A SPIN." CONTACT WAS LOST AT THAT TIME. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION FOUND N5485W WITHOUT EMPENNAGE OR WINGS (APPROX. N44 02.613 W089 10.337). THE EMPENNAGE WAS FOUND (APPROX. N44 02.782 W089 10.383) MISSING THE ELEVATOR, RIGHT STABILIZER, 1/2 OF THE LEFT STABILIZER AND UPPER 2/3 OF THE RUDDER. THE LEFT WING WAS FOUND (APPROX N44 02.877 W089 10.280) MISSING THE AILERON AND FLAP. THE RIGHT WING WAS FOUND (APPROX N44 03.077 W089 10.359) MISSING THE AILERON AND FLAP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.