What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 5, 2024, privacy data omitted, a twin aero commander, departed manassas regional airport (khef), manassas Virginia enroute to georgetown county airport (kgg), georgetown, south carolina. Two pilots were on board.
Air traffic control (ATC) instructed the aircraft to climb and maintain flight level 200. During the climb to altitude, the pilot experienced the loss of the autopilot and advised ATC that they needed to climb. There was no further communication from the pilot.
At approximately 8:50 am, the aircraft crashed in Palmyra, VA. The aircraft was destroyed. Wreckage found on scene indicated an inflight breakup occurred.
The weather in the vicinity of the aircraft's location at altitude indicated moderate icing conditions.
After an extensive search, the right engine was not located.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 5, 2024, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A TWIN AERO COMMANDER, DEPARTED MANASSAS REGIONAL AIRPORT (KHEF), MANASSAS VIRGINIA ENROUTE TO GEORGETOWN COUNTY AIRPORT (KGG), GEORGETOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA. TWO PILOTS WERE ON BOARD.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) INSTRUCTED THE AIRCRAFT TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL 200. DURING THE CLIMB TO ALTITUDE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF THE AUTOPILOT AND ADVISED ATC THAT THEY NEEDED TO CLIMB. THERE WAS NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM THE PILOT.
AT APPROXIMATELY 8:50 AM, THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN PALMYRA, VA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. WRECKAGE FOUND ON SCENE INDICATED AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP OCCURRED.
THE WEATHER IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRCRAFT'S LOCATION AT ALTITUDE INDICATED MODERATE ICING CONDITIONS.
AFTER AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH, THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS NOT LOCATED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.