Background
According to personnel from the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), the pilot was provided with current weather information prior to attempting his first instrument approach into Gwinnett County Airport-Briscoe Field (LZU) in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The reported conditions included calm winds, visibility of 1/2-mile in fog, and a ceiling of 100 feet. The pilot acknowledged the weather information and chose to proceed with the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 25.
Approach Attempts
During the first landing attempt, the pilot reported that he would execute a missed approach but noted that he saw the airport below and wished to attempt another approach. The ARTCC controller then provided radar vectors to realign the aircraft with the ILS approach for runway 25 and updated the pilot with the current weather conditions.
On the second approach, the tower controller advised the pilot that he was left of the runway 25 centerline. Shortly after the pilot acknowledged being left of centerline, the tower controller observed a bright "orange glow" off the left side of the approach end of runway 25. The weather conditions at the time were below the approach minimums for the runway 25 approach, yet the pilot elected to continue with the landing attempt.
Post-Accident Examination
A flight inspection of the ILS was conducted on December 26, 2006. The results indicated that the ILS runway 25 approach system was functioning satisfactorily. Examination of the airframe, flight control system components, engines, and system components revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction.