Event Timeline
At 2346 Central Daylight Time, Kansas City Center provided the pilot with the 2251 weather observation from Springfield and advised the pilot to expect vectors for an instrument approach to Runway 1. Vectors were provided until 0006:50, when center reported that radar contact was lost, approximately three miles south of the outer marker compass locator. The pilot was then cleared for the approach and directed to contact Springfield Radio.
At 0008:21, the pilot called the Springfield Flight Service Station and stated that he was on the approach but was unable to receive the outer marker. The FSS specialist replied that the compass locator, glide slope, and localizer were all monitoring normally. Shortly after this communication, the aircraft struck the tops of trees and crashed roughly 1,200 feet west of the approach end of Runway 1.
Investigation Findings
An investigation into the accident revealed that the weather had deteriorated very rapidly during the interval between the pilot being cleared for the approach and the time of the accident. A special weather bulletin had been received at the Springfield FSS, but the specialist on duty did not hear the warning buzzer that should have alerted him to the bulletin. Additionally, a rental slip for the aircraft documented that the Automatic Direction Finder and marker beacon were listed as inoperative on September 29, 1983. No record was found indicating that either piece of equipment had been repaired.
The investigation also found that the pilot had been on duty for nearly 15 hours at the time of the accident.