Accident Overview
A twin-engine aircraft conducting a demonstration flight from Montgomery, Alabama, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, crashed near Jackson-Municipal Airport. The aircraft was destroyed, and all eight occupants—seven passengers and one pilot—were killed.
Flight Details
The flight was en route when the aircraft encountered icing conditions at its cruising altitude of 14,000 feet. The pilot reported an engine failure to air traffic control and was cleared to divert to Jackson-Municipal Airport.
Accident Sequence
During the descent toward Jackson, the aircraft went out of control and impacted terrain a few miles from the airport. The subsequent crash resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The probable cause of the accident was an uncontrolled collision with the ground on final approach due to a powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors included diverted attention from operation of the aircraft, improper in-flight decisions, icing conditions (including sleet and freezing rain), fog, complete failure on one engine, and a weather briefing that indicated a freezing level between 13,000 and 15,000 feet while the aircraft was cruising at 14,000 feet.