What happened
On the day of the accident, the pilot contacted the St. Petersburg, Florida, Automated Flight Service Station twice. During the first call at 0741, the pilot received an outlook briefing; during the second call at 1345, the pilot received a weather briefing and filed an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight departed at 1429 eastern standard time.
As the flight progressed toward its destination, air traffic control communications were transferred between several facilities. At 1709:40, the pilot contacted the Memphis Air Traffic Control Tower (Memphis ATCT) and reported being at 4,000 feet. When asked about the preferred approach, the pilot requested a GPS runway 16 approach. The controller noted that no weather reporting facility was available at the destination airport.
The flight remained in contact with Memphis ATCT and was cleared to descend and maintain 3,000 feet. At 1724:49, the pilot reported being at 2,300 feet, despite not receiving a descent clearance below 3,000 feet. The pilot again requested the GPS 16 approach. After being vectored for the approach and advised of weather conditions at Memphis International Airport, the pilot was cleared to descend to 2,000 feet.
Upon reaching 5 miles from the initial approach fix (IAF), the pilot was vectored on a heading of 180 degrees and cleared for the GPS 16 approach. The pilot acknowledged missed approach instructions, stating that in the event of a missed approach, the aircraft would proceed to Memphis.
Radar plots show the aircraft flew south, intercepting the final approach course between the IAF and the final approach fix (FAF). The aircraft initially flew west of the course, then turned left toward the southeast, re-intercepting the course approximately 3.5 nautical miles south of the FAF. The aircraft then flew east of the course, turned right toward the southwest, and re-intercepted the course near the missed approach point (MAP). Following a series of turns, the last recorded radar return occurred at 1743:09 at an altitude of 900 feet. This position was located .58 nautical mile southwest of the MAP over the Mississippi River.
The aircraft, pilot, and passenger have not been located and are presumed to be destroyed and fatally injured. Two days after the accident, cowling plugs marked with the aircraft's registration were found south of Helena, Arkansas.
Findings
Weather observations at Memphis International Airport at 1753 indicated winds from 150 degrees at 5 knots, visibility of 6 statute miles in mist, broken clouds at 700 feet, and an overcast layer at 2,100 feet. Doppler weather radar showed no significant severe weather echoes in the area between 1700 and 1800.