What happened
On the day of the accident, a private pilot with 1,765 hours of instrument-rated experience was executing an ILS runway 5 instrument approach. Air traffic control (ATC) had vectored the pilot to intercept the localizer course. Radar data and communications records show that at 10:35:53, the controller instructed the pilot to fly a heading of 0 020 degrees to intercept the localizer and maintain 3,000 feet until established. The pilot acknowledged and began a right turn toward the airport.
During the next two minutes, the aircraft tracked a 020-degree heading but remained south of the final approach course. By 10:38:10, the aircraft was southeast of the HOSSY intersection at an altitude of 3,000 feet MSL, which was 700 feet above the published approach altitude of 2,300 feet MSL. At 10:39:25, the pilot reported being established on the final approach course; however, the aircraft was already 2.5 miles past HOSSY and three miles from the runway. The relief controller then cleared the pilot for the ILS runway 5 approach and approved a change to advisory frequency.
The pilot's last transmission was an acknowledgment of the clearance. Following this, the aircraft overflew the airport, made a left turn, and collided with mountainous terrain approximately five miles northeast of the airport. A witness near the area reported hearing the engine sound normally before it stopped abruptly.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft and its engine revealed no mechanical deficiencies.