Incident Overview
At approximately 2003 central daylight time, a flight was cleared for an instrument landing system (ILS) localizer approach to runway 36 at Harrison-Boone County Airport. The airport is located at an elevation of 1,364 feet above mean sea level.
Sequence of Events
About seven minutes after the clearance, the aircrew reported executing a missed approach. The flight was subsequently cleared to the outer compass locator for another approach. The crew requested that the Harrison Flight Service Station specialist increase the intensity of the approach lights, as they did not see the airport until passing midfield. The specialist complied.
At approximately 2015 central standard time, the aircrew reported inbound at the Bakky intersection (the outer marker). The outer marker was situated 4.7 miles south of the I-HRO localizer distance measuring equipment on an outbound heading of 179°. When the flight did not arrive as expected, a search was initiated.
Wreckage and Location
Wreckage was found where the aircraft had collided with a mountain at the 1,840-foot level while on a heading of 335°. The crash site was located 3.5 miles west-southwest of the airport. Additionally, the site lay along the 179° radial of the Harrison VOR, at roughly the same distance and direction from the VOR as the outer marker was from the localizer DME. Both pilots were killed.
Weather Conditions
The airport weather at the time was reported as 500-foot overcast ceiling, 2 miles visibility with fog.
Probable Cause
Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water. Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr). Findings: 1. (c) ifr procedure - improper - pilot in command 2. (c) flight/navigation instrument(s) - improper use of - pilot in command 3. Pilot in command 4. (f) weather condition - low ceiling 5. (f) weather condition - rain 6. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly.