Incident Details
An aircraft was en route from Sacramento, California, to Arcata, California. The pilot contacted Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and filed an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan. As the aircraft approached the destination at 10,000 feet, the pilot requested a lower altitude and was cleared to descend to 8,000 feet. Subsequently, the pilot was cleared for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to Runway 32 at an uncontrolled airport in Arcata, with a restriction to remain at 8,000 feet until crossing the Yager intersection.
Sequence of Events
The pilot began the descent early and crossed the Yager intersection at 6,700 feet. The aircraft descended below radar coverage at 5,300 feet. Radar service was terminated, and the pilot was instructed to contact the Arcata Flight Service Station (FSS). The pilot contacted the FSS and was advised that the weather was partially obscured, with ceilings of 400 feet broken, 1,500 feet broken, 2,400 feet overcast, and visibility of 3 miles. The pilot acknowledged and stated that he was in the clouds at 3,200 feet. There was no further contact with the aircraft.
Findings
A search was initiated, and the aircraft was found where it had crashed along the ILS course line about 18 miles short of the runway. Impact occurred on hilly/mountainous terrain at an elevation of approximately 2,750 feet. The minimum descent altitude for that segment of the approach was 5,200 feet.