On December 24, 1988, a Cessna 310R (registration N5121J) operated by Hfg, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Madison, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain visual reference during a circling approach, which resulted in a collision with terrain while attempting to avoid high-tension towers and/or wires. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft descended below decision height on a VOR/DME circling approach. The pilot pulled up abruptly to avoid towers, resulting in a stall and fatal crash.
What happened
During a VOR/DME approach, the aircraft descended below the decision height while executing a circling maneuver. In an effort to avoid collision with high-tension towers and/or wires, the pilot initiated an abrupt pull-up. This action resulted in a stall/spin into the terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation determined that the aircraft descended below the decision height on a circling approach. In an attempt to avoid collision with high-tension towers and/or wires, the pilot initiated an abrupt pull-up, followed by a stall/spin into the terrain.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's failure to maintain visual reference during the circling approach and the subsequent loss of control due to the abrupt maneuver. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain visual reference during a circling approach, which resulted in a collision with terrain while attempting to avoid high-tension towers and/or wires.