Accident Description
The aircraft crashed after the pilot attempted to land on runway 03 three times during foggy conditions. The pilot and witnesses reported fog at the airport. The first two attempts, a visual approach and an ILS approach, were unsuccessful. On the third attempt, the pilot flew the ILS approach when the crash occurred.
Flight History
Radar data showed the aircraft descended to 1,100 feet mean sea level (msl) about half a mile from the runway. The published decision height was 1,118 feet msl. The aircraft passed east of the runway threshold at 1,000 feet msl. The final radar return placed the aircraft about 2,300 feet beyond and 400 feet east of the runway.
Investigation
The investigation revealed the aircraft struck trees east of the runway and then crashed in a cornfield. An examination found no evidence of a malfunction. The landing gear was retracted, and the flaps were extended 10 degrees. All five occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstructions because of improper instrument flight rules (IFR) operation. Contributing factors included descent below decision height, delay in initiating the missed approach, and fog conditions.