King Air 90 down in Mount Airy, NC.

[probablecause]

I went to high school with passenger Hal Echols daughter. Sadly, she lost her mom a few years back as well. I remember that family being so caring. So sad.

 

[ultrarunner]

Ah man, that's sucks. Very sad to hear.

Why would anyone shoot that approach at OVC001?

Because it likely wasn't 100 over when he shot it.

The last FlightAware radar track is at 1625Z. The METAR at that time indicates 600 over and 4 in heavy rain.

100 overcase came an hour and 15 minutes later.

Now, that's not excessively above mins, and in my opinion the PIC would have to have his A-game in play, but with just the info we have at this point, I'd have likely shot that approach unless there was other intel available to indicate reasons not to shoot it.

 

[CaravanMan]

Yeah, makes sense. I didn't look at the time on FlightAware.

 

[SNAFU22]

God Speed

 

[blzr]

Anyone know the owner/pic's total time? I would be curious. The GPS approach is fairly strait foreward, I didn't look at the NDB though.

If he was doing the NDB, what are the chances that the pilot just got disoriented, got behind the aircraft and....well. I ask this only because the wreckage all seemed to be in the same general area and not strewn across the whole county.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's your basic straight in NDB with a PT. However, Cat B mins for the NDB are 800 and a 1 1/4. That wouldn't have gotten him down low enough. The GPS is 500/1 for the same Cat so he was "likely shooting that approach or there would have been no reason to even try, IMHO.

The METAR shows just slightly above the ceiling for the GPS procedure. It would have been close and not surprising at all if he missed due to not seeing it in the heavy rain or seeing it to late to be in a position to land. Only 4300 feet of pavement in front of you, and by all accounts this was a single-pilot operation. While he "may" have had someone riding shot-gun, it's been my experience in the same environment that unless that person is trained, it's safer if they keep quiet on the approach.