Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to Mercer County Airport. According to the pilot's report, the plan was to descend to 3,200 feet MSL, then execute a missed approach and return to Abington, Virginia. The airport elevation is 2,857 feet MSL. The pilot stated that he remembered glancing at the altimeter when reaching 3,200 feet, looked for the runway environment, and was preparing to execute the missed approach when the aircraft suddenly struck trees and crashed.
Location and Weather
The impact occurred approximately half a mile from the approach end of Runway 23. Weather conditions at the time included: ceiling 100 feet obscured, visibility half a mile with fog, temperature 42 degrees Fahrenheit, and wind from 280 degrees at 5 knots.
Facility and Equipment Checks
Post-accident inspections found the ILS and VORTAC facilities to be operational. The aircraft's NAV/COMM unit, glide slope receiver, and course indicator head were bench-checked and found to be within tolerances. The altimeter was tested and showed considerable error at each test point; however, it was not disassembled to determine if interim damage had occurred during the accident.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that he was focusing on the missed approach procedure when the collision with trees occurred. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or occupant status were released in the investigation source.