What happened
The accident occurred while N8759W, a Cessna 172S, was conducting an instrument approach into Lawrenceburg. During the descent phase at Lawrenceburg, the aircraft entered cloud conditions at an altitude of 3,500 feet. At 17:09, air traffic control cleared the aircraft for a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) approach procedure. The published minimum altitude for this specific approach was 1,560 feet, while the field elevation stood at 936 feet.
The aircraft was being tracked on radar during its final segment of flight. Radar contact was lost approximately where the procedure turn would typically be located. There were no radio transmissions from the cockpit indicating mechanical failure or distress prior to impact. The aircraft struck the ground approximately 10 nautical miles north of the airport in a near-vertical descent, exhibiting an apparent rotation to the left. All wreckage was concentrated within a 60-foot circle.
Following the accident, a reporter who was also a pilot learned of the incident at 17:45 and flew to Lawrenceburg to observe the scene. Upon arrival, he conducted the same NDB approach. Finding himself below visual meteorological conditions at the minimum descent altitude, he executed a missed approach procedure. He then proceeded to Maury County, located about 20 nautical miles north, where he landed safely.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the navigation aid revealed that the Lawrenceburg NDB had been flight checked on December 14 and was found to be satisfactory. This indicates the ground-based signal was operational and within acceptable limits at the time of the accident.