What happened
During a nighttime arrival at Pine Bluff-Grider Field, the flight crew encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by fog and low cloud cover. This reduced visibility prompted the crew to perform a go-around on their initial approach. Shortly after, while attempting a second approach, the twin engine airplane descended into a level of terrain that was too low for safe operation. The aircraft impacted trees in a forested area situated several miles from the airfield, resulting in a post-impact fire. The accident resulted in four fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the primary factor in the accident was improper IFR operation by the crew during the final approach phase. Several environmental and operational elements contributed to the crash, including:
- Flight conditions involving low ceilings and fog
- Presence of high obstructions in the flight path
- Meteorological conditions that were below established minimums and slightly worse than predicted
- A descent below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) during a night VOR approach
- The sequence of a missed first approach followed by a second attempt