Narrative:The aircraft collided with trees 2350 feet from the threshold of runway 23 at Columbia. Visibility was less than 100 feet due to dense fog. The trainee pilot had been without rest for at least 30 hours prior to the accident.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Pilot attempted to make a VFR landing in instrument conditions that were below minimums for the published instrument approach and collided with trees and the ground after allowing the airplane to descend below the proper altitude. "
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | NTSB  |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 1 year and 2 months | Accident number: | ATL89FA142 | Download report: | Summary report
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Classification:
VFR flight in IMC
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» ICAO Adrep Summary 3/89 (#83)
» NTSB
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Memphis International Airport, TN to Columbia-Maury County Airport, TN as the crow flies is 258 km (162 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.