Incident Summary
A pilot conducting an ILS Runway 25 approach was following another IFR aircraft that had completed its landing. Tower personnel lost sight of the preceding aircraft due to ground fog. The controller cleared the accident pilot to land and advised him to report a missed approach or when on the ground, as the controller could no longer see the runway.
Communications and Events
The controller subsequently asked the pilot if he was performing a missed approach, and the pilot responded affirmatively. About 20 seconds later, over an open microphone, the pilot was heard saying, "can you hear me i'm... come on baby, come on, come on, come on." In the background, a stall warning horn was audible. The airplane then crashed into sand dunes approximately 1.5 miles west of the airport with a high sink rate.
Postaccident Examination
Voice tape analysis revealed that the propeller rpm oscillated between a high of 2,844 rpm and a low of 2,220 rpm over 52 seconds. During an on-scene investigation, traces of red propeller dome oil were found from the base of one blade, as well as on the engine cowl, windshield, top communication antenna, and other locations. A postaccident examination of the propeller found no preexisting failure or malfunction. The propeller governor was functionally tested and performed to the manufacturer's specifications.