What happened
During an approach in instrument meteorological conditions, a Cessna (type not specified in source) struck terrain and was destroyed. At the destination airport, weather consisted of mist, 3 statute miles of visibility, and an overcast cloud layer ranging from 400 to 1,100 feet agl.
The flight proceeded without incident until the pilot requested and received clearance for a GPS approach. Following this clearance, no further communications were received from the pilot. The aircraft struck trees in a wooded area located 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 at an elevation of 563 feet msl.
The investigation
An examination of the GPS approach plate showed that the inbound course from the final approach fix, situated roughly 5 miles from the airport, was 324 degrees. The required minimums for a straight-in approach to runway 32 were 1 statute mile of visibility and a decision altitude of 960 feet msl (624 feet agl). No procedure turn was necessary for this approach.
Radar data analysis indicated that after crossing the final approach fix, the aircraft turned right, deviating from the final approach course, and tracked northbound for several seconds. The aircraft then executed a left turn to proceed inbound toward the airport, tracking an approximate 300-degree course. The final radar return showed the aircraft at 1,000 feet msl, approximately 1 mile southeast of the airport.
The pilot had a total of 409 flight hours. In the six months preceding the accident, the pilot had flown only 7 hours, with only 0.7 hours conducted in actual instrument conditions. Additionally, the pilot's most recent night flight had occurred approximately 20 months prior to the accident.