This December 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Cessna 210. Location: Bloomfield, Ky. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The private pilot’s logbook showed he had logged 1,650 hours, including 500 in the Cessna 210. He was instrument rated and had about 100 hours of actual instrument experience and 150 hours of simulated instrument experience. The pilot’s last flight review and instrument proficiency check were completed on April 20, 2007.

The recorded radar data showed that the airplane was heading northwest towards the destination airport, descending through an altitude of 6,800 feet MSL at a constant rate of about 650 fpm. The flight was in VFR conditions but there were clouds in the vicinity. The airplane began a turn to the north. The airplane’s angle of bank reached about 50° and exceeded the aircraft’s published structural cruise speed by 20 knots. Trajectory calculations showed that a breakup of the airplane occurred about five seconds later.

... read the rest of Spatial disorientation, structural overload kills two (99 words)