What happened
During an instrument flight rules (IFR) approach utilizing VOR navigation toward Marion Airport, a single-engine airplane encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by fog and low ceilings. While attempting the approach, the pilot descended beneath the established minimum descent altitude (MDA). During this descent, the aircraft made contact with trees before ultimately crashing.
As a result of the impact, the passenger sustained fatal injuries, while the pilot survived the accident with injuries.
Findings
Official investigations into the accident identified that the primary factor was improper IFR operation by the pilot. The investigation highlighted several contributing environmental and operational elements:
- Reduced visibility due to fog
- Low cloud ceilings
- Failure to maintain the prescribed minimum descent altitude during the VOR approach