What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
From 8030-9 "N501RG departed kffc en-route to kjwn. Shortly after takeoff, pilot was having issues with attitude indicator. N501RG was observed in a descent and ztl lost radar and comms. Alnot issued at 1522Z".
Preliminary investigation indicates the final minutes of flight occurred in weather conditions. Per NTSB data sources, there was light to moderate ice reported, and conditions were IMC. The departure controller and pilot discussed aircraft having problem with and inability to hold clearance at 10000 ft. pilot reported his autopilot and left side attitude indicator was the problem. Controller urged pilot to disconnect autopilot. As problem was seemingly resolved, possibly by disconnection of autopilot, pilot was then successfully cleared to 13000 ft. he was then cleared to 16000 ft. while achieving climb thru approximately 15200 ft, aircraft ADS-B and radar data indicated aircraft began to veer/roll left wing down, followed by a rapid descent and in-flight breakup, including right wing segment, left aileron, and all tail components. Aircraft disappeared from radar at 8000 ft. primary wreckage found largely intact at approximate GPS coordinated indicated in this report in a creek bed upside down. Tail and wing fragments were strewn about in a northerly pattern in an a approximate debris field of 6000 ft per NTSB measurements. Two pilots and both passengers were fatally injured.
Cause of accident undetermined at this time. NTSB system investigation is underway, and when removed air data, autopilot, and ice system components are tested, more data points can be potentially observed.
As the FAA filed it
FROM 8030-9 "N501RG DEPARTED KFFC EN-ROUTE TO KJWN. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH ATTITUDE INDICATOR. N501RG WAS OBSERVED IN A DESCENT AND ZTL LOST RADAR AND COMMS. ALNOT ISSUED AT 1522Z".
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES THE FINAL MINUTES OF FLIGHT OCCURRED IN WEATHER CONDITIONS. PER NTSB DATA SOURCES, THERE WAS LIGHT TO MODERATE ICE REPORTED, AND CONDITIONS WERE IMC. THE DEPARTURE CONTROLLER AND PILOT DISCUSSED AIRCRAFT HAVING PROBLEM WITH AND INABILITY TO HOLD CLEARANCE AT 10000 FT. PILOT REPORTED HIS AUTOPILOT AND LEFT SIDE ATTITUDE INDICATOR WAS THE PROBLEM. CONTROLLER URGED PILOT TO DISCONNECT AUTOPILOT. AS PROBLEM WAS SEEMINGLY RESOLVED, POSSIBLY BY DISCONNECTION OF AUTOPILOT, PILOT WAS THEN SUCCESSFULLY CLEARED TO 13000 FT. HE WAS THEN CLEARED TO 16000 FT. WHILE ACHIEVING CLIMB THRU APPROXIMATELY 15200 FT, AIRCRAFT ADS-B AND RADAR DATA INDICATED AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER/ROLL LEFT WING DOWN, FOLLOWED BY A RAPID DESCENT AND IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP, INCLUDING RIGHT WING SEGMENT, LEFT AILERON, AND ALL TAIL COMPONENTS. AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AT 8000 FT. PRIMARY WRECKAGE FOUND LARGELY INTACT AT APPROXIMATE GPS COORDINATED INDICATED IN THIS REPORT IN A CREEK BED UPSIDE DOWN. TAIL AND WING FRAGMENTS WERE STREWN ABOUT IN A NORTHERLY PATTERN IN AN A APPROXIMATE DEBRIS FIELD OF 6000 FT PER NTSB MEASUREMENTS. TWO PILOTS AND BOTH PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED.
CAUSE OF ACCIDENT UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. NTSB SYSTEM INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY, AND WHEN REMOVED AIR DATA, AUTOPILOT, AND ICE SYSTEM COMPONENTS ARE TESTED, MORE DATA POINTS CAN BE POTENTIALLY OBSERVED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.