Accident Overview
A small aircraft conducting an instrument approach struck trees and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
Flight Sequence
The pilot initially attempted a VOR approach but missed. He advised air traffic control that he would attempt the NDB approach and, if unable to see the runway, would divert to Metro Airport in Detroit or Pontiac. During the NDB approach, the aircraft struck trees 960 feet below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). The aircraft then flipped over, landing on its nose and the top of the fuselage.
Findings and Probable Cause
The official investigation identified the probable cause as the pilot's failure to follow instrument flight rules procedure, poor judgment, and failure to maintain the minimum descent altitude and decision height. Specific findings include:
- In-flight planning/decision not corrected by the pilot in command.
- IFR procedure not followed by the pilot in command.
- Poor judgment by the pilot in command.
- Minimum descent altitude not used by the pilot in command.
- Decision height not maintained by the pilot in command.
The accident involved two occurrences: an in-flight collision with an object (trees) during the approach from the final approach fix to the threshold, and a subsequent uncontrolled descent resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain.