What Caused The Fatal Air Angels Crash In Aurora?

Taking pilot error and mechanical failure out of the equation for the time being, what are the rules for tower lights according to the FCC? In Section 17 of the FCC rules and regulations, it says this:

(a)(1) Shall make an observation of the antenna structure's lights at least once each 24 hours either visually or by observing an automatic properly maintained indicator designed to register any failure of such lights, to insure that all such lights are functioning properly as required

They also need to be illuminated from sunset to sunup, at least. In addition, any time that the lights are not illuminated, FCC Flight Service or the FAA has to be alerted. Full disclosure time: I am a former WBIG Radio employee, from about 2002 through 2005, and currently employed elsewhere in the radio industry. Tower lights are often verified twice a day, usually once in the morning and once at night. Those are then logged and initialed by the operator on duty and in many places, that kind of documentation is often no more than just checking off a section on a clipboard.

The physical studio of the radio station is just steps from from the tower itself - morning visual verification often took place during the drive to the station. The station usually closes for business at about 6pm - and if the sun isn't down at that time, it can be hard to verify that the lights are still operational. If there is no one on-site for evening programming or local sports broadcasts and the station is in automation (as is common among many small stations), it's not out of line to assume that sometimes it doesn't get done.

The coincidence of a fatal mechanical error taking place in such extreme proximity to a radio tower 740 feet in the air would be a real stretch, but it is entirely possible, and a full report on the crash isn't expected for months at the quickest. However, it's a safe bet that the FCC will be doing their own inspection and checking WBIG's paperwork much sooner than that.