Accident Summary
The aircraft was cleared for a VOR approach to the airport and was performing a circling maneuver to land when it struck the ground short of the runway. The pilot stated that during the approach, the aircraft "started behaving strangely in a [manner] I [wasn't] familiar with, a wobble, or flopping in [the] tail section, not like a stall." Passengers reported that the aircraft appeared low and then banked left, rolling 90 degrees so that the left wing pointed directly at the ground.
Communication
According to voice transcripts, the pilot did not inform controllers that he had current weather information, and controllers did not provide the latest weather to the pilot as required by an FAA order. The pilot requested and received weather for the destination airport, described as "about three quarters to a half mile visibility here and a ceiling six hundred broken." At 1644:47, the pilot transmitted, "okay i got the runway now how bout ah the reverse direction is that all right."
Flight Data
Radar data indicated that at 1643:03, the aircraft was at 1,200 feet MSL with a ground speed of 89 knots. At 1644:44, the altitude was 1,000 feet MSL and ground speed 82 knots. The approach procedure for the VOR or GPS-A approach to MIC specified a minimum descent altitude of 1,360 feet MSL and minimum visibility of 1 mile for Category A, B, and C aircraft. During voice communications, the pilot stated at 1643:04, "thirteen hundred feet ah we're just starting to see the ground."
Aircraft Information
The airplane owner's manual listed the minimum multi-engine approach speed as 107 miles per hour (MPH) indicated airspeed (IAS). Stall speeds with landing gear down and flaps extended 45 degrees were: 81 MPH IAS at 0 degrees of bank; 83 MPH IAS at 20 degrees of bank; 92 MPH IAS at 40 degrees of bank; and 115 MPH IAS at 60 degrees of bank.
Examination
A postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition.