What happened
The pilot departed Jackson, Mississippi, after receiving a weather briefing via radio and filing an instrument flight rules (IFR) plan for McComb. Upon arrival at the destination airport, conditions were severe with an indefinitely obscured ceiling at zero feet and visibility limited to one-half mile in fog. The wind was from 160 degrees at seven knots.
While conducting an ILS localizer approach toward Runway 15, the aircraft encountered trees approximately 2,900 feet from the approach end. These trees stood between 50 and 60 feet tall on ground that was roughly 400 feet above mean sea level (MSL). The minimum descent altitude for this procedure was 800 feet MSL.
The initial impact occurred along the centerline of the approach path. Following the strike, the aircraft continued flying for about 630 feet before crashing into a wooded area located approximately 400 feet to the left of the approach centerline.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of pre-impact malfunction or failure in the engine systems. The flight path and impact location indicated a loss of spatial orientation or control during the final phase of the instrument approach in dense fog.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the IFR weather conditions with zero visibility and an obscured ceiling, combined with the aircraft descending below the minimum safe altitude. The pilot failed to maintain adequate terrain clearance while navigating in fog during a critical phase of flight.