Overview
The accident involved an on-demand air taxi flight operating under 14 CFR Part 135. The airplane was destroyed when it struck trees and terrain while conducting a circling approach during a non-precision instrument approach at night. The wreckage came to rest 1.74 nautical miles and 226 degrees magnetic from the intended airport.
Weather and Flight Planning
A weather briefing was obtained, and instrument meteorological conditions were present along the route of flight at the time of the briefing. Weather reports from the two stations closest to the destination indicated ceilings of 400 to 500 feet overcast and visibility of 5 to 7 statute miles. The airport elevation was 669 feet, and the minimum descent altitude for the approach was 1,240 feet. There was no weather reporting station at the destination airport.
According to the operator's General Operations Manual, the pilot was responsible for dispatch, including flight planning and confirming compliance with departure, en-route, arrival, and terminal operations. The manual specified that for airports without weather reporting, the area forecast and reports from airports in the vicinity must indicate VFR conditions at the estimated time of arrival to allow termination of IFR operations and landing under VFR. Additionally, a visual approach was not approved without weather reporting.
Regulatory Requirements
Under 14 CFR Part 135, instrument flight operations at an airport require weather observations at that airport. The regulations further state that an instrument approach cannot be initiated unless approved weather information is available at the airport and indicates conditions at or above the authorized minimums for the approach procedure.
Crew Qualifications
The commercial pilot in command held a type rating for the accident airplane. The right-seat occupant was a commercial pilot employed by the operator but did not hold an appropriate type rating for the accident airplane. The pitch trim selector switch was found set to the co-pilot side. Regulations state that Part 135 operators cannot use the services of any person as an airman unless that person is appropriately qualified for the operation.
Night Operations
The circling approach was conducted over primarily unlit land and water. An FAA publication notes that during night operations, distance may be deceptive due to limited lighting conditions, and a lack of intervening references on the ground can affect altitude and speed estimation. More dependence must be placed on flight instruments, particularly the altimeter and airspeed indicator.
Examination
No anomalies were found with respect to the airframe, engines, or systems that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.
Probable Cause
The probable cause as determined by the official findings: The flightcrew not maintaining altitude/clearance during the circling instrument approach. Factors were the pilot in command initiating the flight without proper weather reporting facilities at the destination, the flightcrew not flying to an alternate destination, the flightcrew not following company and FAA procedures/directives, the lack of certification of the second pilot, the operator not following company and FAA procedures/directives, and the dark night and the low ceiling.