What happened
The pilot was assigned a cruise altitude of 6,000 feet MSL, though radar tracked the airplane at 5,900 feet MSL. While flying in IMC, the aircraft was vectored onto the final approach course for an ILS approach. At the time of localizer intercept, the aircraft was descending at a rate of approximately 500 fpm.
When the aircraft reached 5 miles from the Localizer Outer Marker (LOM), air traffic control cleared the pilot for the approach and terminated radar services. The aircraft crossed the LOM approximately one-quarter mile to the right of the course, maintaining an altitude within 100 feet of the glide-slope crossing altitude of 2,837 feet MSL. Following the LOM, the descent rate decreased to roughly 400 fpm, and the aircraft continued to descend for approximately 1 minute and 38 seconds.
The aircraft leveled off at 2,200 feet MSL and maintained that altitude until radar contact was lost about one minute later. Approximately 2 miles from the airport, the pilot attempted to acquire the ground visually. The pilot observed the ground approaching the front of the airplane seconds before impact. The aircraft impacted the ground and came to rest approximately 80 feet below the elevation of the runway. Prior to the collision, the pilot believed the aircraft was in level flight at approximately 1,000 feet AGL. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported.