FlightFollowerPilot Pushes Through Icing and Snow — Crashes Half-Mile From Runway
Accident facts and aircraft context
On 1 November 2020, at about 5:48 PM, a privately operated Grumman American GA-7 Cougar, registered as N791GA, crashed near Ellicott, New York, while approaching Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport.
The aircraft had departed from Burlington Alamance Regional Airport in North Carolina, and all three occupants on board, including the pilot, were fatally injured.
Purpose of the flight
Private IFR cross-country flight.
Flight sequence and key events
The airplane was completely destroyed in the accident.
Before the return flight, the pilot discussed weather concerns and possible icing conditions with his flight instructor.
Despite poor weather forecasts, the pilot continued the journey.
Radar data showed the aircraft descending on an instrument approach before contact was lost about one mile from the runway.
A nearby witness later reported hearing the aircraft engines loudly for 10 to 15 seconds before sudden silence.
Recorded data showed the aircraft descending at approximately 500 feet per minute, and the last ADS-B target indicated an altitude of 2,250 feet mean sea level, which was 527 feet above airport elevation.
Weather recorded two minutes after the crash included scattered clouds at 500 feet above ground level with visibility reduced to three-quarter mile in light snow and mist.
Investigation findings
Investigators found the wreckage about half a mile from the runway threshold, with evidence showing the airplane gradually descended into trees.
The instrument approach required a minimum descent altitude of 2,100 feet MSL, or 1,921 feet MSL with GPS vertical guidance, but investigators concluded the pilot descended below the safe minimum altitude in instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
The Ellicott crash ended an approach conducted in snow, clouds and turbulence. The investigation evidence supports the controlled-flight-into-terrain conclusion, making the descent below the safe approach margin the central factual issue.
How the event developed
The aircraft continued an instrument approach in snow, clouds and turbulence and descended below the applicable minimum altitude. It then struck trees short of the runway.
- Incident date
- 1 November 2020
- Aircraft / registration
- Grumman American GA-7 Cougar — N791GA
- Investigation status
- Accident investigation record ASN244580