Tupelo

Shortly after takeoff from Tupelo Regional Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane entered a right turn then lost height and crashed near the boundary fence, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.

The uncertificated pilot stole the accident airplane at Tupelo Airport with the intent of crashing it into a department store located 2 miles southeast of the airport. However, he continued to fly the airplane in the area for several hours until he performed an off-airport landing in a field 32 miles northwest of the departure airport that resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s fuselage.

The pilot received a weather briefing before departure and when near the destination airport, cleared for the NDB approach. The pilot reported the procedure turn inbound; published MDA is 1,300 feet msl. Witnesses on the airport reported heavy low fog and heard the pilot announce over the UNICOM frequency, 'Oh there is fog rolling into Starkville too?' One of the witnesses advised the pilot they could go to another airport due to the fog; the pilot responded he would execute the approach. The witnesses heard the engines operating at full power then heard the impact and saw a fireball. The airplane impacted the runway inverted, slid across the runway, and came to rest in grass off the runway. A post crash fire destroyed the airplane. Tree contact approximately 972 feet northwest of the runway impact location separated approximately 51 inches of the left wing. Examination of the engines, propellers, and flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The pilot had twice failed his airline transport pilot checkride. The designated examiner of the second failed flight test indicated the pilot was marginal in all flight operations. The NDB was checked after the accident; no discrepancies were noted.

On final approach to Tupelo Airport, the pilot was unable to locate the runway due to limited visibility. Circling the field following a straight-in approach, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed on the field. The passenger was injured while the pilot was killed.

On approach to Columbus-Lowndes County Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed few miles from the airfield. The wreckage was found few hours later. The airplane was destroyed and all six occupants have been killed.