What happened
On the morning of the accident, the pilot received a weather briefing that included specific precautions for flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) due to conditions in Georgia and Alabama. The flight departed from Macon, Georgia, at 08:41 EST, with an intended destination of Anniston, Alabama.
While approximately 22 miles southeast of the Anniston Airport, the pilot communicated with Atlanta Center to cancel the IFR flight plan. During this exchange, air traffic control informed the pilot that the minimum safe altitude for the local area was 2,900 feet MSL. Shortly thereafter, the pilot contacted Anniston radio to inquire about local meteorological conditions. The most recent report provided indicated a ceiling of 1,500 feet broken and 3,100 feet overcast, with 5 miles of visibility in fog.
The aircraft later struck a mountain top located roughly 10 miles southwest of the Anniston airport. The impact occurred at an elevation of approximately 2,300 feet. The accident resulted in four fatalities.
Findings
- The aircraft struck terrain at an elevation significantly lower than the 2,900 feet MSL minimum safe altitude advised by controllers.
- Weather conditions at the time of the crash included an 800-foot overcast and 4 miles of visibility in fog, indicating low visibility and deteriorating weather.