Incident Overview
A pilot flying to an undisclosed destination airport was advised by air traffic control that weather conditions were below approach minimums. When asked about diversion options, the pilot stated that no alternate airport had been filed. The tower controller suggested Donaldson Center Airport as a nearby alternative, and the pilot agreed to divert there.
Approach and Communication Failure
After deciding to divert, the pilot received radar vectors for the final approach course to runway 5 at Donaldson Center. As the pilot maneuvered for the approach, the aircraft descended below 2,500 feet. At that point, the tower controller issued a low altitude warning, but the pilot did not respond. Subsequent attempts to re-establish communication were unsuccessful.
Crash Site Examination
Examination of the crash site revealed damage to a power line approximately 75 feet above the ground, as well as damage to the tops of four trees. The wreckage was scattered along a magnetic heading of 195 degrees, with a debris field 100 feet wide and 450 feet long. The engine had separated from the airframe and was located 300 feet from the main wreckage. The left wing was also separated and found on the right side of the wreckage path.
Mechanical and Radar Findings
No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot prior to the accident, and a post-accident examination of the wreckage found no evidence of a mechanical issue or component failure. Radar data indicated that the aircraft lost 600 feet of altitude over a period of 14 seconds before disappearing from radar. The elevation at the crash site was 955 feet.