What happened
During an approach to Jackson-McKellar Sipes Airport, the pilot encountered heavy fog and low visibility. In an attempt to navigate the weather, the pilot lowered the aircraft's altitude. However, the flight descended beneath the established minimum descent altitude (MDA) while approximately three miles from the runway threshold. During this descent, the aircraft type struck trees and subsequently crashed. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane and the deaths of both occupants.
Findings
Official investigations into the accident highlighted several contributing factors related to the flight's execution. The primary issue identified was that the pilot did not adhere to approved operational procedures. Specifically, the investigation noted improper IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) operations during the approach. Environmental conditions played a significant role, as the area was experiencing fog and an overcast ceiling at 400 feet. Ultimately, the crash was caused by the descent below the MDA of 760 feet prior to reaching the runway.