What happened
The aircraft was conducting an instrument approach to the airport when it encountered dense fog conditions. The specific approach procedure required the installation and operation of an Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) receiver. However, the aircraft did not have this equipment installed at the time of the flight.
During the descent, the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) for the approach was established at 1,600 feet MSL. The pilot continued the descent below this altitude without having the required navigation aid to ensure safe terrain clearance. The aircraft impacted a line of trees located approximately 3.5 miles from the airport while flying at an altitude of 1,200 feet MSL.
The investigation
Examination of the flight plan and equipment status revealed that the aircraft was not equipped with the necessary avionics for the specific approach being flown. It was noted that new avionics were scheduled to be installed at Lawrenceville the day after the accident. Additionally, the pilot had planned to leave town on business on the same day as the incident.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the operation of an aircraft without required navigation equipment during an instrument approach in poor weather conditions. The lack of an ADF receiver prevented proper navigation and situational awareness, leading to controlled flight into terrain below the minimum safe altitude.
fuel exhaustion is not applicable here; the critical failure was navigation equipment deficiency. The accident highlights the danger of conducting instrument approaches without all required avionics, especially in dense fog conditions where visual references are absent.