What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, Flight 3PI8, an aircraft operated by Delta Air Lines, departed Dallas, Texas, for Shreveport, Louisiana, with a scheduled stop. The flight was operating under VFR flight rules and carried 17 passengers and 3 crew members. During the transit, the crew received weather updates from Longview, Texas, indicating the presence of thunderstorms and light rain in the area. Ground personnel specifically advised the pilot to maintain a course well to the north to avoid approaching convective activity.
As the flight progressed toward Shreveport, the crew established contact with the Shreveport Control Tower. During these communications, the tower provided updated weather information, including reports of a thunderstorm approximately 15 miles west of the destination airport. After acknowledging instructions for a landing approach to Runway 13, the aircraft ceased all radio communication.
Shortly after the last contact, reports emerged that an aircraft had crashed in the vicinity of Marshall, Texas. The impact resulted in the deaths of 19 people, with one passenger sustaining serious injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed upon impact.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the flight entered a highly intense, localized thunderstorm characterized by heavy rain, hail, extreme turbulence, and high winds. This encounter led to a total loss of effective control over the aircraft, forcing it into the ground.
Furthermore, it was noted that the pilot failed to follow company protocols which mandated the avoidance of thunderstorms when such maneuvers were possible. Despite receiving specific suggestions from ground personnel to deviate north of the storm cells, the captain proceeded directly into the weather system without adjusting course or altitude. Additionally, the flight transitioned from VFR to IFR conditions without securing the necessary clearance.