What happened
An aircraft departed Little Rock, Arkansas, at approximately 23:56 CST. During the flight, the destination airport's weather reporting system began indicating visibility as low as 1/4 statute mile, which was below the required 3/4 mile minimum for the ILAS approach to runway 05. Radar tracking showed the aircraft flying on a northeasterly heading and descending from 2,400 feet MSL to 900 feet MSL between 01:38 and 01:42. Shortly after 01:42, the aircraft was recorded at 1,000 feet MSL, very close to the approach end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently crashed in a wooded area located roughly 0.37 nautical miles from the approach end of runway 05. An investigation of the wreckage found that all components required for flight were present, and there was no evidence of a post-crash fire. An examination of trees at the site showed the aircraft was banked left at approximately 24 degrees during its descent.
Findings
Investigations into the mechanical state of the aircraft revealed no evidence of pre-impact failure regarding the engine, propeller, flight controls, or flap systems. The autopilot and avionics were also found to be functioning correctly prior to the accident. However, it was noted that the pilot's attitude indicator had been replaced recently, and the facility responsible for the installation lacked the necessary equipment to perform required operational checks. At the time of the accident, weather conditions included a low cloud ceiling of 100 feet and heavy fog, which was described by an airport witness as being exceptionally thick. The visibility reported by the automated weather system was significantly below the authorized landing minimums.