[1] Flight 2254 departed Gadsden from Runway 24, with Captain William Query (56) and First Officer Quentin Haynes at the controls.

The aircraft turned left toward the east along its intended flight path to Atlanta, climbing toward an assigned altitude of 5,000 feet.

The ASA crew reported afterward that they saw the Cessna moments before impact, and that the captain attempted evasive action by pushing the nose down, but was unable to avoid the collision.

[2]: 1 [6][5] The probable cause of the crash was attributed by the NTSB to be "inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both aircraft, which resulted in their failure to see and avoid oncoming traffic.

"[2] Similar accidents between a scheduled commercial flight and a private aircraft in the immediate airport environment include: This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Transportation Safety Board.