What happened
Two instrument-rated pilots departed for a planned 24-mile instrument flight. Approximately five minutes after takeoff, one of the pilots contacted the radar controller to request an instrument landing clearance. The controller provided clearance for an ILSS runway 7 approach to Santa Barbara.
As the airplane reached approximately 1 mile west of the final approach fix, it had descended to 1,500 feet, which was below the published glide slope altitude of 1,774 feet for that fix. At 1042, while still inbound toward the final approach fix, the aircraft reversed course and proceeded in a westerly then northerly direction. Radar data indicated the airplane subsequently descended through 1,100 feet on a northeasterly heading. Following this descent, a low altitude alert alarm sounded in the ATC control room, and radar contact was lost.
A witness reported seeing the aircraft emerge from clouds in a steep descent before impacting the water at a high rate of speed. The witness estimated visibility was 2 miles in fog. There were 2 fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators recovered the wreckage and found no mechanical malfunction. A review of the pilots' logbooks and airplane utilization records determined that neither pilot met the FAA instrument flight currency requirements.