What happened
The pilot requested and received clearance to fly directly to an uncontrolled airport, despite the facility lacking terminal navigation aids and the aircraft being equipped with no RNAV-type equipment. A special weather observation from nearby Athens at 0745 indicated indefinite ceiling, obscured sky, and visibility of one-quarter mile with fog. At 0801, Atlanta Center cleared the pilot to intercept the Toccoa 229 radial and proceed inbound via the VOR/DME runway 6 approach. When established on the radial, the pilot was instructed to descend and maintain 4,000 feet.
The pilot was cleared for the approach. Before reaching the initial approach fix on the 33-mile DME arc at 0803, he was advised that the airport was one mile off his right wing. The aircraft tracked outbound in the vicinity of the 229 radial, then turned back toward the airport. However, it never became established inbound on the radial. Subsequently, the aircraft tracked to the right of course and struck trees on rising terrain approximately 3.25 miles east of the airport at an altitude of 1,660 feet MSL. The minimum descent altitude for the approach was 1,920 feet.
An eyewitness reported visibility was between 40 to 50 feet with dense fog. The minimums for the approach were 500 feet ceiling and one mile visibility. Atlanta Center experienced a shift change as the aircraft arrived. The controller did not advise that radar service was terminated nor provide information about weather during the approach. This was the pilot's first approach to this airport.
Findings
The aircraft tracked right of course and struck trees on rising terrain. The minimum descent altitude for the approach was 1,920 feet. An eyewitness reported visibility was between 40 to 50 feet with dense fog. The minimums for the approach were 500 feet ceiling and one mile visibility. Atlanta Center experienced a shift change as the aircraft arrived. The controller did not advise that radar service was terminated nor provide information about weather during the approach. This was the pilot's first approach to this airport.