What happened
During a night descent into Peoria Airport under challenging weather conditions, a twin engine airplane lost control while on final approach. The aircraft drifted off course and impacted the ground in Pekin, located approximately seven miles southeast of the destination airport. The impact was followed by a significant post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe.
There were six fatalities recorded in the accident, as all occupants on board perished during the crash and subsequent fire.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation while attempting the approach. The environmental conditions at the time of the incident included rain, fog, and a low ceiling. While the flight crew had been cleared for an ILS approach and was instructed to notify approach control upon reaching the outer marker, this specific communication was not documented by the controllers.