What happened
During a night approach in instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot was executing an ILS approach when the approach controller instructed the pilot to switch to the advisory frequency following the termination of radar services. The pilot acknowledged this instruction, but no further communications were received from the aircraft.
Radar data analysis showed that the aircraft intercepted the final approach course for runway 3 localizer and began a gradual descent. Approximately four minutes before the accident, the aircraft was tracked on the localizer course at a ground speed of 115 knots, after which radar coverage was lost. The aircraft subsequently impacted a wooded area located approximately 1/2 mile west of the runway, near the 500-foot markers on the runway surface. The wreckage path was oriented roughly 90 degrees to the left of the inbound approach heading, and a postcrash fire consumed the main wreckage.
Weather reports from the airport indicated visibility of 2-1/2 statute miles with mist and few clouds at 200 feet AGL approximately seven minutes before the accident. A report taken one minute after the impact showed visibility had decreased to 3/4 statute miles with mist and scattered clouds at 200 and 500 feet AGL. The instrument approach procedure required a decision altitude of 250 feet AGL and minimums of 3/4 statute miles of visibility.