Accident Overview
The accident occurred while the pilot was flying a VOR approach in instrument conditions. According to data, the airplane entered a left standard rate turn and subsequently descended into trees approximately 2.5 miles from the airport.
Witness and Passenger Reports
Two passengers on board reported that there was no indication of any problem during the flight. They stated that they had just descended below the clouds and believed they were landing just prior to contacting the trees. Witnesses on the ground reported moderate to heavy rain in the area at the time of the accident.
GPS Data Analysis
A plot of the GPS data shows that the airplane traveled south of the approach course before turning left back toward the course. Approximately 20 seconds prior to the last recorded position, the airplane entered a left turn at a rate of 2.6 degrees per second while accelerating from 99 mph to 119 mph. The last recorded GPS position was about 275 yards south of the accident site.
Post-Accident Inspection
Post-accident inspection of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any pre-existing failure or malfunction that would have resulted in the accident.