ATL96LA024

According to the pilot, as he approached the decision height on the ILS approach, he observed ground lights, but never established visual contact with runway 5. Unable to identify the runway, the pilot executed a missed approach. During the climbout, the airplane collided with a 75 foot tall tree 2000 feet from the approach end of the runway. The decision height for the approach is 306 feet above the ground. The pilot diverted to another airport and landed without further incident. No approved weather reporting facility was located at the airport. According to Title 14 CFR Part 135.225, no pilot may begin an instrument approach to an airport without an approved weather reporting facility; nor can the pilot descend below the decision height (DH) if actual weather conditions are less than the published minimums.

On December 19, 1995, at 1845 eastern standard time, a Piper PA- 32-300, N4219T, collided with a tree 2000 feet from the approach end of runway 05 at the Monroe Municipal Airport in Monroe, North Carolina. The domestic cargo flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135 with an instrument flight plan filed. Instrument weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Whitesville, North Carolina, at 1745 hours.

According to the pilot, while on the final approach phase of the ILS runway 05 approach, he noticed lights on the ground. As he continued the approach descent, the airplane collided with a 75 foot tall tree. The decision height for the ILS runway 5 approach is 306 feet above the ground. The pilot said, visual contact with the airport was never established. The pilot executed the missed approach procedure, and flew to Columbia, South Carolina; the flight landed without incident.

According to Monroe Airport personnel, there in no weather reporting facility located on the airport. The nearest weather reporting facility is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Title 14 CFR Part 135.225 stated that,

"no pilot may begin an instrument procedure to an airport unless that airport has a weather reporting facility operated by the U.S. National weather service...or a source approved by the Administrator". Part 135.225 (b) also states that, "no pilot may begin the final approach segment of an instrument approach procedure to an airport unless the approach may be continued and landing made if the pilot finds, upon reaching the authorized minimum descent altitude (MDA) or decision height (DH), that the actual weather conditions are at least equal to the minimums prescribed for the procedure".