What happened
During a scheduled passenger pick-up and charter flight, an airline transport rated pilot attempted to land under visual flight rules. While communicating with a ground-based pilot using a handheld radio, the pilot reported that ground fog prevented the sighting of runway lights. The aircraft circled the airport for approximately 20 minutes.
A witness on the ground observed the aircraft at an altitude of roughly 1,500 feet during its circling pattern before it transitioned into a downwind leg for runway 26. Although the witness initially lost sight and sound of the aircraft as it moved away, the engine sounds remained normal during the final approach. This was followed by a loud impact noise.
The aircraft struck trees approximately 80 feet in height, located roughly 2,000 feet from the approach end of runway 26. The impact created a debris path measuring 370 feet, characterized by broken tree limbs and trunks up to 15 inches in diameter. Upon arrival at the scene, the wreckage was found fully engulfed in flames. No pre-impact malfunctions were identified during the examination of the wreckage.
Findings
Weather conditions at a nearby airport 19 miles south-southeast indicated visibility of 1 3/4 miles in mist. However, local witnesses near the crash site described much more severe conditions, including thick fog and visibility described by a resident as being near zero.