What happened
During the preflight phase, the pilot received information regarding low ceilings and diminished visibility expected at the destination airport. While operating in the Atlanta area, the pilot was directed via radar vectors toward the localizer runway 31 approach and received the current altimeter setting. During the approach, the aircraft struck a 60-foot tall light pole located at a baseball complex, approximately 2 miles before reaching the runway.
While official weather observations from Hartsfield International Airport reported visual conditions, a witness at the crash site described the weather as foggy with limited visibility. The debris field was located 2,467 feet to the right of the localizer course. The area's average field elevation is 800 feet, while the required minimum descent altitude for the approach was 1260 feet.
Findings
Investigations into the aircraft's equipment revealed that the navigational radios and the localizer and DME facilities were all functioning within normal parameters. Post-accident toxicological analysis of the pilot revealed the presence of several medications, including chlorpheniramine, phenylpropanolamine, and pseudoephedrine, which are used as antihistamines and decongestants. However, the specific concentrations of these substances in the pilot's blood could not be determined.