What happened
The pilot was cleared to conduct an approach with descent authorized down to 2300 feet. After reporting passage through Hance, the final approach fix, the pilot began descending from 3000 feet. The aircraft descended at a rate of 500 feet per minute until reaching 2300 feet, where it was leveled and the landing gear was lowered.
According to the pilot's account, approximately two nautical miles from the airport—where the descent to 1820 feet was scheduled to begin—the pilot extended the flaps one notch. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft impacted the ground. The crash site was located one and one-quarter miles from the airport along the final approach course.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path and altitude deviations during the final approach phase. The primary finding was that the aircraft descended below the minimum safe altitude for the specific segment of the approach before reaching the intended descent point.