Approach and Communications
The aircraft was cleared for an ILS Runway 4 approach while 9 miles north of the North Bend VOR (OTH). Instructions required crossing the OTH VOR at or above 3,700 feet MSL. Fourteen minutes later, the pilot reported to North Bend Flight Service Station, saying, "My needle doesn't seem to be moving on my localizer here uh you know my location." Indications of navigation and communication difficulties continued.
Descent and Heading Changes
Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) cleared the aircraft to descend from 5,000 feet to 3,000 feet on a heading of 360 degrees while 11 miles southwest of the airport. After a heading change to 035 degrees, the pilot stated, "I got it centered now." At the outer marker, the pilot said, "I'm a little higher two thousand I'll try to get down." Approximately two minutes later, the pilot reported an altitude of 800 feet. The aircraft crashed in a hilly wooded area about 3 miles north-northeast of the airport.
Prior Performance and Aircraft History
A chief pilot and an FAA examiner reported that the pilot's instrument flight rules (IFR) performance was unsatisfactory during a Part 135 checkride. According to another pilot and maintenance records, the aircraft (N1067U) had a history of discrepancies with the navigation equipment. A company pilot stated that the company put pressure on pilots to fly aircraft that sometimes were not airworthy.