Weather Briefing and Departure
The pilot received a weather briefing at 1012 CST. The destination, Fayetteville, Arkansas, was reported to have an estimated 600-foot overcast ceiling, visibility of 4 miles, light drizzle, and fog. The forecast indicated that conditions would begin to improve in about one hour. The pilot took off and arrived in the vicinity at 1123.
Approach Sequence
Upon arrival, the pilot was advised that two previous aircraft had executed missed approaches. At 1139:17, the pilot was cleared for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach and instructed to report over the outer marker. At 1141:08, the pilot reported departing the ELMIE intersection, located 6.9 miles from the outer marker.
At 1145:21, the tower cleared the aircraft to land and reminded the pilot to report at the outer marker. The pilot responded, "Waiting for it." Approximately 30 seconds later, the tower requested the pilot's position, but no reply was received.
Accident Findings
The aircraft was later found at the site of a crash on rising terrain with an elevation of 1,960 feet. The wreckage was located along the extended centerline of Runway 16, approximately 7 miles south-southeast of the airport. The minimum descent altitude for the approach was 1,800 feet, or 549 feet above ground level. The airport elevation is 1,251 feet.
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the marker beacon switch was in the off position. The landing gear and flaps were found extended. Weather at the airport at the time of the accident was reported as 500-foot overcast, visibility of 3 miles, drizzle, and fog.