Accident Overview
The airplane was destroyed after impacting terrain during an approach in instrument meteorological conditions. The wreckage came to rest in a wooded area approximately 1-3/4 miles from the runway 32 threshold and about 1/2 mile right of the extended centerline. A postcrash fire consumed the main wreckage. The accident site elevation was 563 feet MSL.
Weather and Approach
At the destination airport, weather was reported as 3 statute miles visibility and mist, with an overcast cloud layer at 700 feet above ground level. The overcast ceiling was variable from 400 to 1,100 feet AGL. The pilot requested and was cleared for the GPS approach. No further transmissions were received from the pilot.
Review of the approach plate revealed that the inbound course from the final approach fix, located about 5 miles from the airport, was 324 degrees. Minimums for the straight-in approach to runway 32 were 1 statute mile visibility and a minimum decision altitude of 960 feet MSL (624 feet AGL). No procedure turn was required.
Accident Sequence
Radar data showed that after crossing the final approach fix, the airplane turned right, away from the final approach course, and tracked northbound for several seconds. It then made a left turn and proceeded inbound toward the airport, tracking an approximate 300-degree course until the last radar return, at which point the airplane was about 1 mile southeast of the airport at 1,000 feet MSL. The airplane struck trees and came to rest in a wooded area.
Pilot Information
The pilot had accumulated about 409 hours of total flight experience. Within the previous 6 months, he had logged 7 hours, of which 1.7 hours were in simulated instrument conditions and 0.7 hours in actual instrument conditions. The pilot's most recent flight conducted in nighttime conditions was approximately 20 months prior to the accident.
Conclusion
The airplane was destroyed during the approach. The source does not provide a probable cause for the accident.