What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation destined for Chicago-Midway Airport, the aircraft encountered severe meteorological conditions including rain showers, fog, and low cloud ceilings. While navigating through these adverse weather elements, the crew experienced a failure of the VOR receiver. In an attempt to maintain visual contact with the terrain during the period of degraded visibility, the pilot elected to descend to a lower altitude.
During this descent, the aircraft type (unspecified model) impacted a hillside. The collision resulted in a fatal accident, with both occupants killed.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that the flight was conducted with known equipment deficiencies. Specifically, the aircraft's transmitter/receiver system was inoperative prior to departure. While the secondary navigation system remained functional initially, it also failed during the flight while the aircraft was operating in poor weather conditions. The decision to descend into terrain while navigating with malfunctioning instruments and low visibility was a critical factor in the accident.