Incident Overview
A night mail flight operating between Cincinnati and Nashville ended in tragedy when the aircraft crashed in Brentwood, approximately 7 miles southwest of Nashville Airport. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, lost control of the airplane during the approach phase. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground, resulting in its destruction and the pilot's death.
Weather Conditions
Upon arrival in the Nashville area, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. The official report noted low ceiling, rain, and fog at the time of the accident. Additionally, the weather was reported to be slightly worse than forecast.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was an uncontrolled descent into the ground on approach after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation. Contributing factors included low ceiling, rain, fog, and weather conditions that were slightly worse than forecast.