Accident Details
At 0559:50, before reaching the final approach fix (FAF), the pilot of N759MN was cleared for the NDB-B approach to Linden Airport. At 0600:45, radar service was terminated and the pilot was cleared to change to the advisory frequency. Subsequently, the aircraft hit the top of a 75-foot tree and crashed just short of the FAF. The minimum descent altitude (MDA) for that segment of the approach was 2000 feet; the MDA for the final approach was 640 feet. The elevation of the crash site was about 220 feet.
Weather and Approach
At the time of the approach, weather at Newark, New Jersey, was reported as partially obscured, with 400 feet scattered, 15,000 feet scattered, visibility 1 mile with fog, temperature and dew point 71 degrees Fahrenheit, wind from 220 degrees at 3 knots, and altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury. There was no weather report for Linden, but a pilot who had landed earlier reported that he had the airport in sight about 8 miles out, though there was ground fog.
Radar and Witness Information
Radar data showed that the aircraft had descended to 1800 feet at 0559:59, then was at 1300 feet at 0600:46. The controller did not enable the Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW) system. A witness reported that just before the accident, the aircraft appeared to 'pop out' of a cloud at about 100 feet above ground level in a descent.