Accident Overview
An airplane was destroyed when it struck the ground approximately 3.7 miles from the destination airport, resulting in impact forces and a post-crash fire. The aircraft had been cleared for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to the airport.
On-Scene Examination
Investigators conducted an on-scene examination of the airframe, engine, and gyroscopic flight instruments. No anomalies that could be associated with a pre-existing condition were found.
Approach Details
The minimum descent altitude for the ILS approach is 243 feet above ground level. The inbound course for the instrument approach is 298 degrees magnetic. Radar data indicated that the airplane was heading in a northerly direction before commencing a left turn onto the inbound course. The last radar return was received before the airplane reached the locator outer marker for the approach. Altitude returns showed the airplane descending from a pressure altitude of 4,000 feet to a pressure altitude of 2,800 feet, which was the final return recorded.
Wreckage Distribution
The wreckage path was distributed on a magnetic heading of approximately 145 degrees.
Weather Information
Approximately 20 minutes before the accident, the weather reporting station at the destination airport recorded a 100-foot overcast ceiling with 1 statute mile of visibility. This current weather was available to the pilot via the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) at the destination airport.
Communications
No communications were received from the airplane after controllers authorized the pilot to switch to the destination airport's advisory frequency.