The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at 0404 Central time. The solo commercial pilot was fatally injured.
A review of ATC data showed the airplane traveling south at approximately 14,600 feet msl. Approximately one minute prior to the accident, after he reported encountering heavy precipitation, the pilot executed a turn to the right. The airplane descended to 14,200 feet and then radar contact was lost. The fuselage came to rest in a wooded area. The wings, engines, horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilizer were separated from the fuselage and located within a one-mile diameter of the fuselage. No evidence of in-flight or post-impact fire was noted.
