NYC05FA021

Arriving in the area of the destination airport, the weather was reported as, 10 statute miles of visibility; overcast clouds at 300 feet; and a temperature and dew point of 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot requested and was subsequently cleared for the localizer approach. About 11 miles from the runway, the pilot failed to intercept the final approach course, and air traffic control provided additional radar vectors to assist him in doing so. About 6 miles prior to the runway threshold, the airplane intercepted the final approach course and began a descent. Twenty seconds later, the airplane made a right turn and began tracking parallel, about 1/2-mile west, of the final approach course. The descent continued to 600 feet, about 5 miles prior to the runway threshold, where the pilot executed a missed approach, and requested to "...go and try another one." On the second approach, about 6 miles prior to the runway threshold, the pilot intercepted the final approach course and began a descent. The airplane continued to track the final approach course, and about 7 miles prior to the runway threshold, the airplane's last radar return was recorded at 700 feet. The airplane came to rest on residential property about 6.5 miles from the runway threshold. A post crash fire consumed the main wreckage. The elevation of at the accident site was 717 feet. Review of the published instrument approach procedure revealed that the final approach fix (FAF) was located 5 miles from the runway threshold. The minimum crossing altitude at the FAF was 1,800 feet. The minimums for the approach were 1 statute mile of visibility, and a minimum descent altitude of 720 feet.

History of flight

On November 24, 2004, at 1204 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310R, N310DM, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain near Paeonian Springs, Virginia while executing an instrument approach to the Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from the Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control transcripts, at 1104, the pilot was provided weather for his destination. At 1106:12, the pilot was provided a heading to maintain until receiving the Casanova VORTAC. After the VORTAC, the pilot was to then fly direct to the Leesburg airport. About one minute later, the air traffic controller re-iterated the assigned heading to the pilot, and asked him if he was on that heading. The pilot replied, "we're returning to it something knocked off the ah autopilot there we got out of control for a few seconds." At 1129:28, the pilot was asked which approach he preferred at Leesburg, which he replied, "the localizer approach." At 1143:51, the controller instructed the pilot to proceed direct to the STILL intersection, which he replied, "ah direct still three ten delta mike tell me where still is." The controller replied that the intersection was on the localizer, and subsequently assigned the pilot a heading.

At 1150:29, the controller cleared the pilot for the LOC RWY 17 approach at Leesburg, and asked him if he was established. The pilot replied, "coming up on now." At 1150:48, the controller asked the pilot if he was established on the localizer. The pilot replied, "ah we just as we just lost it." The controller then issued a heading for the pilot to re-intercept the localizer. At 1152:01, the controller again asked the pilot if he was established on the localizer. The pilot replied, "sure we're we're established." The controller then terminated the radar services, and instructed the pilot to "call with a cancellation."

Review of radar data revealed that at 1150:31, as the airplane was about 1-mile south of STILL intersection, at 2,600 feet; it began a right hand turn towards the final approach course. During the turn, the airplane descended from 2,600 feet, to 2,200 feet, and then ascended to 2,800 feet. The right hand turn continued, and the airplane began to fly west, away from the final approach course. At 1151:12, when the airplane was about 1-mile west of the final approach course, a left hand turn was initiated back toward the final approach course. During the turn, the airplane descended from 2,700 feet, to 2,200 feet, and then ascended to 2,700 feet. At 1152:22, about 6 miles prior to the runway 17 threshold, the airplane intercepted the final approach course and began a descent. About 20 seconds later, the airplane made a right hand turn and began to track a parallel heading, about 1/2-mile west of the final approach course. The descent continued to 600 feet until about 5 miles prior to the runway 17 threshold, where a climb began at 1154:03, followed by a right hand turn. The right turn continued to a point where the airplane began to track northwesterly parallel to the final approach course.

At 1154:04, the pilot transmitted to air traffic control that he was executing a missed approach from Leesburg. After not hearing a reply, the pilot subsequently transmitted two more times that he was executing the missed approach. At 1154:35, the controller acknowledged the pilot's transmissions, and instructed him to "ident" and to state his intentions, to which the pilot replied, "we'd like to go and try another one." The airplane was vectored back to the final approach course, and at 1158:23, about five miles from the WARDE intersection, was again cleared for the LOC RWY 17 approach at Leesburg. At 1159:16, the controller terminated radar services, and the pilot replied, "thank you." No further radio transmissions were received from the pilot.

Review of radar data revealed that at 1158:49, as the airplane was about 3/4-mile southwest of STILL intersection, at 2,900 feet; it began a right hand turn towards the final approach course. At 1200:08, about 6 miles prior to the runway 17 threshold, the airplane intercepted the final approach course and began a descent. The airplane continued to track the final approach course, and about 7 miles prior to the runway 17 threshold, the last radar return was received at 1201:54, which indicated an altitude of 700 feet.

The airplane came to rest about 6.5 miles from the runway 17 threshold.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight, at 39 degrees, 09.819 minutes north longitude, 77 degrees, 35.737 minutes west latitude, at an elevation of 717 feet.

Personnel information

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot's most recent application for an FAA third class medical certificate was dated on November 11, 2004. The pilot reported on the application that he had accumulated about 9,000 total hours of flight experience, 140 hours of which were during the previous 6 months. The pilot's logbook was not recovered during the investigation.

Aircraft information

The airplane's logbooks were not recovered during the investigation.

Meteorological information

The weather reported at Leesburg, at 1104, included winds from 150 degrees at 7 knots; 1-1/4 statute miles of visibility; an overcast cloud layer at 300 feet agl; temperature 56 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 56 degrees Fahrenheit; and an altimeter setting of 29.85 inches of mercury. At 1141, the weather included winds from 150 degrees at 6 knots; 5 statute miles of visibility; an overcast cloud layer at 300 feet agl; temperature 56 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 56 degrees Fahrenheit; and an altimeter setting of 29.82 inches of mercury. At 1201, the weather included winds from 150 degrees at 5 knots; 10 statute miles of visibility; an overcast cloud layer at 300 feet agl; temperature 56 degrees Fahrenheit; dew point 56 degrees Fahrenheit; and an altimeter setting of 29.80 inches of mercury.

Airport information

Leesburg Airport was an uncontrolled airport, and utilized a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) for air traffic communications. The CTAF was also used for pilot controlled lighting.

The elevation of Leesburg Airport was 389 feet.

Aids to navigation

Review of the LOC RWY 17 instrument approach procedure at Leesburg revealed that the final approach fix (FAF), identified as WARDE intersection, was located 5 miles from the runway 17 threshold. The minimum crossing altitude at WARDE was 1,800 feet msl. The minimums for the straight in approach to runway 17, utilizing distance measuring equipment (DME), were 1 statute mile of visibility, and a minimum descent altitude of 720 feet msl (400 feet agl). The minimums for the straight in approach to runway 17, without utilizing distance measuring equipment (DME), were 1 statute mile of visibility, and a minimum descent altitude of 1,100 feet msl (800 feet agl). No procedure turn was required for the approach.

In addition, STILL intersection was located along the final approach course, 11.2 miles from the runway 17 threshold.

Wreckage and impact information

Examination of the accident site on November 25, 2004, revealed that the terrain where the first impact point was observed consisted of hardwood trees reaching a height of about 80 feet. The wreckage path was about 250 feet in length, and oriented on an approximate 178-degree heading, with the main fuselage coming to rest on a grass lawn on an approximat