What happened
During a nighttime arrival at Longview Airport, a twin engine airplane was performing its final approach when it encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by restricted visibility. While flying approximately 1.75 miles short of the runway threshold, the aircraft collided with trees. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe. There were one fatality recorded in this accident, involving the pilot.
At the time of the collision, the aircraft's landing lights were illuminated and the landing gear was in the extended position. The impact occurred at an altitude of approximately 32 feet above ground level.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the crash. The primary factor was a collision with trees resulting from the pilot miscalculating both the aircraft's altitude and its distance from the runway. Additional contributing factors noted in the report included the presence of high obstructions in the flight path and the effects of pilot fatigue.