What happened
The flight was cleared for the localizer approach to runway 31. The pilot initially reported the airport in sight. However, as the flight descended into the cloud layer, it crashed approximately 1000 feet short of the middle marker. The pilot did not report any aircraft problems prior to the impact.
The investigation
Investigation of the approach parameters revealed that the minimum descent altitude (MDA) for this procedure was set at 1040 feet. Despite these established limits, the aircraft failed to maintain safe clearance during the final stages of the approach.
Findings
Weather conditions were a primary factor in the accident. There was no reported ceiling, but visibility was severely restricted to only .25 mile. The pilot was not instrument qualified, which significantly limited their ability to navigate safely through the cloud layer and low-visibility conditions.