What happened
While performing an arrival procedure, the pilot was instructed to follow an ILS approach for runway 07. During this process, air traffic control notified the pilot of a DC-9 operating approximately 4 miles ahead of his position, advising him to remain vigilant regarding potential wake turbulence.
As the aircraft progressed on its final approach, it drifted below the established ILS glide slope. The descent continued until the aircraft struck trees and crashed roughly 1.8 miles short of the runway threshold. There was only one fatality in the accident, as the pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage revealed no evidence of engine failure, mechanical malfunction, or structural disintegration prior to the impact. Furthermore, the ILS system was found to be functioning correctly and passed all post-accident testing.
Data from radar indicated that the flight path did not involve excessive g-forces or bank angles exceeding 32 degrees. An NTSB performance analysis determined that the aircraft was trailing the preceding DC-9 by 2 minutes and 57 seconds. The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glide path and his inability to identify the correct decision height during the IFR procedure.