What happened
The flight was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to Rogers Municipal Airport by Fayetteville Approach Control. The controller provided the local altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of mercury, a fact confirmed by recorded air traffic control transcripts. The pilot did not read back this critical information. During the descent phase of the approach, the aircraft struck trees approximately 3 miles short of the airport runway. The impact occurred at an altitude of roughly 1,320 feet mean sea level, which was only 25 feet above ground level.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that the pilot had set the altimeter to 30.14 inches of mercury instead of the correct value provided by approach control. This incorrect setting caused the instrument to indicate an altitude approximately 290 feet higher than the aircraft's actual position. The pilot later recalled that the setting of 30.14 had been furnished by approach control, indicating a misunderstanding or miscommunication during the frequency exchange. The pilot also stated that the last altitude reading remembered was 1,750 feet.
Findings
Review of the published approach plate for Rogers Municipal Airport showed a minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 1,700 feet when using the local altimeter setting. The plate included a specific note requiring an increase of 100 feet to the MDA if using the Fayetteville altimeter setting, which would have made the correct minimum 1,800 feet. The pilot's last recalled altitude of 1,750 feet was below this adjusted minimum safe altitude. The discrepancy between the indicated and actual altitude, combined with failure to verify the correct altimeter setting, contributed to the controlled flight into terrain.
Safety message
Pilots must carefully verify and cross-check all air traffic control instructions, particularly when receiving weather data such as altimeter settings. Reading back these values is a critical safety practice to ensure both parties are aligned on the same information before proceeding with instrument approaches.