What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft was enroute VFR on top of clouds to robertson field Connecticut 4B8 at about 7,000 feet the pilot reported to controller that the airplane had experienced a failure of the vacuum system and associated gyroscope instruments. Subsequently, the airplane re-entered IMC and the pilot reported losing control of the airplane in addition to losing more instrument functionality. Aircraft is observed on radar experiencing altitude excursions and variations in airspeed beyond vne of the aircraft. N440H was destroyed during an in-flight breakup and collision with terrain near Syosset, new york.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE VFR ON TOP OF CLOUDS TO ROBERTSON FIELD CONNECTICUT 4B8 AT ABOUT 7,000 FEET THE PILOT REPORTED TO CONTROLLER THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE VACUUM SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED GYROSCOPE INSTRUMENTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE RE-ENTERED IMC AND THE PILOT REPORTED LOSING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE IN ADDITION TO LOSING MORE INSTRUMENT FUNCTIONALITY. AIRCRAFT IS OBSERVED ON RADAR EXPERIENCING ALTITUDE EXCURSIONS AND VARIATIONS IN AIRSPEED BEYOND VNE OF THE AIRCRAFT. N440H WAS DESTROYED DURING AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN NEAR SYOSSET, NEW YORK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.