What happened
During a cross-country flight, an instrument-rated pilot was navigating via GPS approach instructions provided by air traffic control. Radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration indicated that the aircraft deviated from its assigned course by 6 nautical miles and dropped 800 feet below its assigned altitude. The aircraft subsequently crossed the final approach fix at an altitude 400 feet below the required minimum. Upon reaching the minimum descent altitude, the pilot initiated a missed approach.
While the missed approach procedure required a climbing right turn toward a specific intersection, the aircraft instead flew southeast. The flight path was characterized by several fluctuations in altitude before the aircraft leveled off at 2,800 feet mean sea level. Following this, the aircraft entered a 360-degree right turn and nearly completed a second circle before descending into the terrain. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were identified in the wreckage.
Findings
Prior to the impact, the pilot informed air traffic control that heavy weather was causing significant altitude loss, though weather radar showed no convective activity or heavy rain in the area. At the time of the accident, the destination airport reported a 400-foot cloud ceiling and 3 miles of visibility.
Investigation into the pilot's experience revealed that while 4,000 flight hours were claimed on a medical application, these hours could not be verified, and there was no documented evidence of recent instrument proficiency. Furthermore, it was unclear if the pilot was proficient with the aircraft's GPS system, which had been installed only six months prior. The investigation concluded that the combination of low visibility, precipitation, and maneuvering during the missed approach likely led to spatial disorientation, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.