What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was on final approach to Memphis. At the time of the accident, local weather conditions were described as marginal. During this phase of flight, the airplane executed a right bank and subsequently dove into the ground. The impact site was located in a wooded area approximately four miles short of the runway threshold. There were no reports of an explosion or fire on board prior to the final impact with the terrain. All 20 occupants aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the exact cause of the crash could not be determined with certainty. Official findings noted the absence of any pre-impact explosion or fire, but no definitive mechanical or operational failure was identified to explain the sudden descent.