Accident Overview
A commercial pilot conducting a Part 135 cargo flight was killed when the aircraft impacted mountainous terrain after a missed approach. The destination airport lacked a weather reporting facility, and company policy along with FAR 135 required a visual flight rules (VFR) descent and landing from the minimum vectoring altitude (MVA).
Flight History
The pilot requested and received clearance for a localizer approach to the airport, despite a nearby airport reporting 400-foot broken ceilings and 3 miles visibility with fog. After executing the first approach, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he had missed it and requested a second approach. Following the missed approach, the aircraft struck mountainous terrain while aligned with the extended centerline of the localizer. Civil Air Patrol personnel reported that the accident site was obscured by clouds at the time.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that during the first approach attempt, the aircraft descended approximately 1,500 feet below the minimum altitude. Mode C altitude data was lost during the missed approach. The pilot was the sole occupant and was killed.
Previous Incident
Four years earlier, the same pilot descended below the glideslope on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach and crashed into trees in weather conditions below approach minimums.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause attributed the accident to the pilot's failure to follow FAR and company procedures, and his failure to maintain proper altitude during the approach. Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain and the foggy, low-ceiling weather conditions present at the time of the accident.