What happened
During an instrument flight rules crosscountry flight, a pilot and three passengers were conducting an approach to their destination airport. During the descent, the pilot informed air traffic control that the aircraft was traversing regions of moderate to extreme precipitation. Shortly after receiving clearance for the approach, the controller observed the aircraft descending below its designated altitude. Despite a low altitude alert being issued by the controller, the pilot did not respond.
The aircraft eventually struck the ground in a level attitude approximately 12 miles from the destination airport. There were 4 fatalities resulting from the impact. An investigation of the engine, airframe, and various systems showed no signs of mechanical failure that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally prior to the crash.
Findings
Investigation of the area near the crash site revealed flattened vegetation approximately 450 feet southwest of the impact point. Based on the state of the grass, the National Weather Service suggested that wind speeds exceeding 35 knots were present, and a downburst or microburst could not be excluded as a factor.
While the pilot had reviewed weather data via a mobile application six hours prior to departure—which indicated heavy rain, turbulence, and low-level wind shear—it is unclear if more recent updates were obtained. The aircraft was highly vulnerable to sudden changes in wind velocity due to its low altitude and reduced airspeed during the approach phase. It is believed that an intense downdraft likely overwhelmed the aircraft's ability to maintain altitude, forcing it into the terrain.
Additionally, several pilot reports (PIREPs) regarding low-level wind shear had been issued for the area during the flight. However, the air traffic controller did not relay these reports to the pilot or request updated information from the pilot, which could have provided necessary awareness of the hazardous conditions.