Accident Overview
The accident occurred during an instrument flight rules (IFR) approach to a destination airport. The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight and began the approach from the south. Weather conditions at the destination included a ceiling between 800 and 1,000 ft and light rime icing conditions in clouds, which the pilot was aware of. Elevated, wooded terrain existed along the final approach course.
Flight Path
Radar and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data showed that the airplane crossed the intermediate approach fix at the correct altitude. However, the pilot descended the airplane below the final approach fix altitude about 4 miles before the fix. The airplane continued in a gradual descent until radar contact was lost. No distress calls were received before the accident. The airplane crashed on a north-northwesterly heading about 5 miles south of the runway threshold. The elevation at the accident site was about 1,880 ft, which was about 900 ft higher than the airport elevation.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the airframe, engines, and propellers revealed no evidence of a pre-existing mechanical failure or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause
The pilot’s failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure by prematurely descending the airplane below the final approach fix altitude to fly under the low ceiling conditions, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.