http://www.messybeast.com/dragonqueen/icarus-accident.htm

Excerpt from the report:

"The novel composite structure of the aircraft was known to be the subject 
of physical restrictions on operating temperature. These restrictions had 
been carefully explained to the pilot before the flight. When the pilot 
climbed to a higher altitude the levels of ambient solar radiation probably 
led to these temperature restrictions being exceeded, resulting in a thermal 
degradation of the basic structure.
A progressive failure would have occurred, initial delamination of the upper 
skin material would have been be followed by a compressive failure of the 
upper mainspar. Brazier forces would then have extruded the internal wax 
core material leading to a catastrophic failure of the entire primary 
structure. This theory would help to explain why the second aircraft (at a 
lower altitude) experienced no such failure."

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