Accident Overview
The aircraft was cleared for an ILS approach to runway 13 at Scholes Field. It crashed approximately 75 yards north of the runway, coming to rest inverted on a heading of 330 degrees. Both occupants survived the accident, though the pilot was unable to remember the occurrence due to his injuries.
Aircraft Damage
There was extensive damage to the engine and propeller. The fuselage was broken aft of the cockpit, but the wings and empennage remained relatively intact.
Weather Conditions
The investigation revealed that the weather had been variable. At 0656 CST, when the pilot first contacted Houston Approach Control, the Galveston weather was reported as an indefinite ceiling, 100 feet obscured, visibility 3/16 mile with fog. At 0718, the pilot was advised of new weather: sky partially obscured, 300 feet thin scattered, ceiling 800 feet overcast, visibility 3/4 mile with fog. At 0736, the pilot was advised of a special weather observation: sky partially obscured, 300 feet thin scattered, 800 feet overcast, visibility 3/16 mile with fog. A subsequent weather observation, not available to the pilot when he was cleared for the approach at 0742, reported 300 feet obscured, visibility 1/16 mile with fog. Weather minimums for the ILS approach were a ceiling of 200 feet and visibility of 1/2 mile.