Accident Overview
The accident airplane collided with trees and terrain after being cleared for a non-precision instrument approach. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The minimum descent altitude for the approach profile from an intermediate intersection to the missed approach point was 1,460 feet. The elevation of the destination airport was 745 feet, while the elevation of the accident site was 880 feet.
Witness Accounts
Two persons witnessed the accident sequence. Both witnesses observed the airplane in level, low altitude flight with the landing gear down before it struck the tree tops. They described how the airplane pulled up and then rolled before striking the ground. One witness reported that the airplane was flying at the base of the clouds.
Occupants and Damage
All three occupants were killed in the accident. The aircraft sustained substantial damage from the collision with trees and terrain.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was the pilot in command's improper inflight decision and the minimum descent altitude disregarded during an instrument approach.