Accident Details
An aircraft collided with trees approximately 6 miles east of Marion County Airport and about 17 nautical miles southwest of the flight's departure point, which was also the pilot's home airport. The accident site is located about 17 nautical miles southwest of the Haleyville Airport.
Flight Plan and Witness Accounts
The outbound flight departed at approximately 1720 bound for Jackson, Mississippi. The departure from Jackson occurred at 1904 Central Standard Time, with a destination of Birmingham, Alabama, as noted on the air traffic control departure strip. Earlier that day, the pilot had informed the Haleyville Airport manager that he would return to Haleyville the same day.
Witnesses observed the aircraft maneuvering at low altitude in the vicinity of the Hamilton Airport just prior to the crash.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions described by the same witnesses included fog with drizzle and visibility of one-half to three-quarters of a mile. There is no weather reporting facility at Hamilton. Weather data presented in the report is from Muscle Shoals, located 40 nautical miles away, as well as from Birmingham, Alabama, and Tupelo, Mississippi.
Investigative Findings
Post-accident investigation revealed evidence that the autopilot heading mode was engaged at the time of the accident. The vacuum pump had sheared prior to engine stoppage. The pump had logged 730 operational hours since its installation in 1978.