Anniston

The private pilot reported that, while on a left downwind in the airport traffic pattern after conducting a cross-country business flight, he extended the flaps 10 degrees. While on short final, he fully extended the flaps, and shortly after, the left wing dropped. The pilot attempted to correct the left wing drop by applying right aileron and rudder; however, the airplane did not respond. The pilot chose to conduct a go-around and increased engine power. The airplane subsequently pitched up, and the left turn steepened. The pilot subsequently reduced engine power, and the airplane began to descend. The airplane struck the ground short of the runway, and the left wing separated from the fuselage. The examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the trim system revealed that the right aileron trim and the left rudder trim were in positions that would have resulted in a right turn and a left yaw. Further, a witness reported that the airplane appeared to be in a cross-controlled attitude while on final approach to the airport. It is likely that the pilot’s improper use of the trim led to a cross-controlled situation and resulted in the subsequent stall during the attempted go-around.

This was the first day on duty in the southern region operation for both pilots. In addition, they had never flown together. During the flight, the flight crew lost awareness of their airplane's position, erroneously believed that the flight was receiving radar services from ATC, and commenced the approach from an excessive altitude and at a cruise airspeed without accomplishing the published procedure specified on the approach chart. The crew believed that the airplane was south of the airport, and turned toward the north to execute the ILS runway 05 approach. In actuality, the airplane had intercepted the back course localizer signal, and the airplane continued a controlled descent until it impacted terrain. The captain and two passengers were killed while the copilot and two other passengers were seriously injured.

During an updated 0528 est weather briefing, the pilot was advised of flight precautions for IFR weather conditions in the Georgia and Alabama areas. At 0841 est he departed Macon, GA on an IFR flight plan to Anniston, AL. At 0821 cst, approximately 22 miles southeast from the Anniston Airport, the pilot contacted Atlanta center and cancelled his IFR flight plan. He was advised that the minimum safe altitude in his area was 2,900 feet msl. Two minutes later he contacted Anniston radio and requested local weather conditions. He was given the latest reported (0756 cst) weather as ceiling 1,500 broken, 3,100 overcast, 5 miles with fog. The Anniston airport field elevation is 526 feet. The aircraft subsequently impacted a mountain top 10 miles southwest of the airport at an elevation of approximately 2,300 feet. The 0850 cst Anniston weather was 800 feet overcast, 4 miles in fog. All four occupants were killed.

On approach to Anniston Airport, the pilot encountered low ceiling and fog and descended too low when, at an altitude of 1,650 feet, the twin engine airplane struck a mountain located 7,5 miles beyond airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.