Flight History
Prior to departure, a private pilot with approximately 6,000 hours of flight time and an instrument rating obtained a weather briefing and filed an IFR flight plan for a 103-nautical mile flight, which he estimated would take 45 minutes. The flight was cleared for the ILS RWY 36 approach into his destination airport, an uncontrolled airport. While on the approach, the pilot reported on the airport's Unicom frequency that he was a "little" high and intended to make a downwind entry for runway 36.
Witness Observations
A witness first observed the airplane when it was midfield of the runway at an approximate altitude of 300 to 400 feet above ground level. The airplane then executed a left crosswind turn, followed by another left turn, entering a narrow downwind leg for runway 36. While on the downwind leg, the airplane appeared to get "lower and slower than usual." As it crossed over buildings located southwest of the runway, it turned left onto the base leg and made a steep bank as it turned onto final approach; however, the airplane "overshot" the runway.
A second witness observed the airplane traveling north to south approximately 50–60 feet above ground level when it executed a "hard" left turn. The airplane then made a "hard twisting movement" and the nose of the airplane pointed down toward the ground. The airplane came to rest upright in a 15-foot deep drainage ditch on a magnetic heading of 100 degrees, approximately 1/4 mile southeast and about 400 feet east of the extended centerline of runway 36. There was no post-impact fire.
Aircraft Examination
The airplane was configured with the landing gear down, flaps extended to 12 degrees, and speed brakes deployed at the time of impact. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses. Flight control continuity was established, and examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that could have prevented normal operations.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, the weather was reported as overcast skies at 700 feet with visibility of 4 miles.