Night Instrument Approach Ends in Vertical Impact (N32BR)

Approach and Witness Observations The pilot was conducting a GPS Runway 35, circle-to-land Runway 17 approach under night instrument meteorological conditions. A witness reported that the aircraft's downwind leg was two to three times closer to the runway than normal. The turn radius to final approach was much smaller than normal, and the turn was described as relatively flat. The aircraft appeared to be traveling at a relatively slow airspeed during the approach, and engine RPM did not increase during the turn. As the aircraft turned toward the final approach course, the witness saw it instantaneously change from being relatively wings-level to being wings-vertical, with the left wing pointing straight down and the right wing pointing straight up. The witness then lost sight of the aircraft and almost immediately heard a crunch. ## Wreckage and Weather Examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft had impacted the ground almost vertically and, upon impact, was facing approximately the opposite direction of the landing runway. Weather at the time included winds from 080 degrees true at 6 knots, visibility of 2 1/2 statute miles in mist, an overcast ceiling at 300 feet above ground level, and a temperature and dewpoint of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were found.