Weather Briefing and Preflight
The pilot obtained two weather briefings before departure. The first briefing was largely spent selecting an alternate airport. The forecast included instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with low ceilings, low visibility, light snow, fog, and possible freezing drizzle. The aircraft was not certificated for flight in known icing conditions.
Arrival and Icing Encounter
During the arrival phase, the aircraft entered an overcast layer at 3,500 feet MSL. Two minutes later, the pilot reported encountering freezing precipitation. The first approach was abandoned in the vicinity of the final approach fix (FAF) or outer marker after the pilot flew through the localizer course line and was approximately half a mile to the right. Air traffic control vectored the pilot for another instrument landing system (ILS) approach.
Approach and Accident
While inbound on the approach, approach control issued a low altitude alert. The pilot was reminded that the altitude should be 2,600 feet until reaching the FAF; however, the aircraft descended to 2,400 feet. The airspeed was reported to be much higher than normal while descending from the FAF. The aircraft subsequently struck a building and caught fire approximately one-third of a mile northeast of the end of runway 18. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was determined to be: "In flight encounter with weather during approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR), loss of control and subsequent collision with object." The following findings were reported: dark night, low ceiling, fog, snow, rain, icing conditions, wing ice, the pilot initiated operation with known deficiencies in equipment, overconfidence in the aircraft's ability on the part of the pilot, the pilot continued flight into known adverse weather, overconfidence in personal ability on the part of the pilot, and a non-residential building was involved.