Accident Summary
On a localizer approach to an airport, a pilot informed air traffic control that he saw the runway (runway 26) during the first approach but was too fast to land and executed a missed approach. The pilot was subsequently cleared for a second localizer approach at 0048. At approximately 0100, the airplane struck a 100-foot tall tree and collided with terrain about 1 mile east of the airport.
Approach Details
The airport elevation is 2,559 feet. The published minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the localizer approach was 3,020 feet mean sea level, with a minimum visibility requirement of 1 mile. The reported visibility at the destination airport was 1/4 mile in fog. The localizer approach was test flown by the Federal Aviation Administration the day after the accident and operated satisfactorily.
Meteorological Conditions
Weather conditions at the time of the accident included visibility of 1/4 mile in fog. No other weather factors were reported.