What happened
On the evening of the accident, a Cessna 551 was conducting a non-precision localizer approach to runway 10 at the Crisp County Airport in Cordele, Georgia. The pilot had been provided with radar vectors to the outer marker by the Jacksonville Air Traffic Control Center. Radar records indicate that the aircraft began the approach at an altitude of 1,900 feet mean sea level (MSL).
During the descent, the aircraft reached 600 feet MSL as required by the published approach procedure, but it proceeded to fly past the airport. Air traffic controllers observed the aircraft climbing to 700 feet MSL and were awaiting a formal missed approach call from the pilot. However, the aircraft subsequently descended back to 600 feet MSL and lost radar contact. No missed approach communication was ever received by the controller.
Following the loss of radar contact, the aircraft struck trees and the ground. A witness located near the airfield reported hearing the aircraft fly overhead, though visibility was significantly reduced by haze and fog, preventing a visual sighting of the plane.
Findings
- The aircraft descended to 600 feet MSL and overflew the airport.
- The pilot failed to communicate a missed approach to the controller.
- The aircraft struck trees and the ground following the unannounced descent.