Accident Overview
An aircraft bearing registration N9477C departed Elberton, Georgia at approximately 2043 hours on an IFR flight plan bound for Lynchburg, Virginia. During the initial approach to the destination, the aircraft failed to descend out of 4000 feet. Following this, the aircraft was vectored around for a second ILS approach to Runway 3.
Lighting and Weather Conditions
At the time of the approach, the tower controller had gone off duty. Consequently, the sequence flashing lights for Runway 3 were activated by the pilot. Weather recording instruments located on the airfield indicated that these lights had been activated during the first approach but extinguished 8 minutes prior to the accident, while the aircraft was being vectored back to the ILS localizer.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft subsequently impacted trees and the ground just short of and to the left of the approach end of Runway 3. The impact occurred during the second ILS approach attempt.