Accident Details
The aircraft joined the inbound course for the GPS instrument approach between the intermediate approach fix and the final approach fix. It maintained an altitude approximately 200 feet below the sector minimum. The last radar return showed the airplane about 3/4 nautical miles beyond the final approach fix and about 1,000 feet left of the course centerline. An initial tree strike was found about 1 nautical mile before the missed approach point, approximately 700 feet left of the course centerline, at an elevation about 480 feet below the minimum descent altitude. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Witness Reports
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying at a "very low altitude" just prior to its impact with hilly terrain. They also described the sound of the airplane's engines as "really loud" and "a constant roar."
Investigation Findings
There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction. The probable cause was determined to be the pilot's failure to follow the instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an early descent into trees and terrain. Factors included the low ceiling and the night lighting conditions.