What happened
The pilot was conducting his third attempt at a VOR RWY 26 approach after having executed two earlier missed approaches. While inbound from the Final Approach Fix (FAF), the aircraft suddenly turned south, deviating 90 degrees left of the final approach course while descending through 1,500 feet.
At an altitude of 1,000 feet, the pilot reported that he was executing a missed approach; however, his altitude continued to decrease. Air traffic control issued a low altitude alert, to which the pilot responded that he was climbing. The aircraft then turned left toward an easterly direction, but the altitude had dropped to 700 feet.
Controllers advised the pilot that he was proceeding in the wrong direction and suggested he reintercept the VOR final approach course if possible. Ultimately, the airplane impacted a mountain at 900 feet MSL, located 6 miles east of the airport.
The pilot, who lived one mile from the airport and had received flight training from local airports, had previously informed his Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) that during a prior VOR approach at circling minimums, he was unable to locate the airport and chose to search for it rather than execute a missed approach.