What happened
Following departure from the El Reno-Regional Airport, an aircraft entered a descent into the ground just a short distance from the runway. The incident occurred while the plane was ascending through dense fog. During this climb phase, the pilot lost control of the aircraft type, which subsequently struck the terrain.
There were three fatalities recorded among the occupants of the plane. No survivors were reported from the flight crew or passengers on board.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was triggered by the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation while attempting to climb to cruise altitude. Several environmental conditions contributed to the loss of control, including:
- Extremely low cloud ceilings
- Presence of heavy fog
- Reduced visibility of one mile or less