Accident Details
On October 17, 2012, at approximately 0800 central daylight time, a Beech model A36 airplane, registration N121VP, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain short of runway 12 during an instrument approach at Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW), Wausau, Wisconsin. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight had originated from The Waukesha County Airport (UES), Waukesha, Wisconsin, about 0720.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot's written report, as he neared AUW, the airport automated weather observing system reported conditions below approach minimums. He believed the early morning fog would be clearing and decided to attempt the approach, intending to execute a missed approach and hold if conditions did not improve. He attempted an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 12. During the descent, he experienced considerable glare reflecting off the tops of the low cloud layer below. Once he descended into the clouds, conditions became very dark and turbulent.
The pilot stated that his usual practice was to set the decision altitude (DA) and lower the landing gear at the final approach fix (FAF), and he believed he had done so on the accident approach. He did not remember hearing the aural DA warning. He decided to execute a missed approach and began configuring the airplane. He then saw the hills and trees immediately prior to impact.
Aircraft Information
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. No mention was made regarding instrumentation failure or anomalies related to the instrumentation or avionics within the airplane.