Could atmospheric effects cause a PA-30 to break up? About a week ago, a Piper PA-30 crashed into a residential area just a few miles from where I live. An engine was found to have landed a 0.24 nm from the impact site. Sadly, the pilot of the aircraft was killed. Thankfully, however, in spite of the crash occurring in a crowded subdivision, nobody on the ground was injured. 

Now, to the heart of my query:

The NTSB preliminary report indicated an in-flight breakup of the plane. There was not an active thunderstorm in the area, but with 30 minutes or so a small cell had developed (source: me, I do live nearby). Are smaller aircraft subject to atmospheric effects that could cause an in-flight breakup? If so, what sort of atmospheric conditions, assuming a skilled pilot who wouldn't purposefully fly into known bad conditions, would be necessary to cause such catastrophic damage to a small craft like a PA-30?
Atmospheric conditions do not cause aircraft to break up in flight. 

Improper aircraft handling in response to bad weather can cause an aircraft to be overstressed and then breakup.

So can improper handling due to disorientation.