What happened
Following a departure from Upland-Cable Airport, an aircraft was operating in marginal meteorological conditions. While cruising at a low altitude under a low ceiling, the pilot reported malfunctions regarding the aircraft's attitude gyro. During this period of flight, the plane struck an airport complex.
The accident resulted in the deaths of all five occupants of the aircraft. Additionally, the impact caused injuries to four employees located within the airport complex.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing elements related to the flight environment and pilot actions:
- The pilot maintained visual flight rules (VFR) despite encountering adverse weather conditions.
- There were issues involving the aircraft's navigation and flight instruments, specifically the attitude gyro.
- Environmental factors included fog and a low ceiling.
- The flight was being conducted at a low altitude within an area of low cloud cover.
- Critical errors in decision-making during the flight and insufficient preparation prior to takeoff were noted.
- While the pilot reported that the gyros were non-functional, the specific reason for this equipment failure remained undetermined.