What happened
At 2111, the pilot executed a missed approach during an ILS approach to the Arcada Airport. At that time, weather conditions included a sky that was partly obscured with 100 broken clouds and visibility of 1-1/2 miles in fog. Following the missed approach, the pilot canceled IFR flight rules.
At 2137, the pilot contacted Arcada Radio to report that certain VORs were out of service and requested a DF steer to the airport. The pilot had previously acknowledged awareness that the Arcada VOR was non-operational. Air traffic services provided DF service to a point located 3 miles southwest of the airport, and the aircraft was cleared for the ILS runway 32 approach.
No further radio transmissions were received from the aircraft. The airplane subsequently collided with a stand of redwood trees approximately 4,500 feet northeast of the airport while on an approximate heading of 097 degrees. Witnesses observed the aircraft passing over residential homes at a very low altitude, and one witness reported visibility was as low as 1/8 mile in fog.
Findings
Upon the pilot's admission to the hospital, testing determined a blood alcohol level of 0.14 gm%.