NTSB Factual Report

On September 15, 2018, about 1103 eastern daylight time, a Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC41-550FG, N2536T, collided with trees and terrain during an instrument approach at Woburn, Massachusetts. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to the pilot and was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated at Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York at 0954 and was destined for Laurence G Hanscom Field (BED)m Bedford, Massachusetts.

According to preliminary data from air traffic control, the flight was handed off from Boston approach control to BED tower after being cleared for the ILS approach to runway 29. The pilot contacted BED tower and was cleared to land. As the flight crossed the final approach fix (JAYSE), the controller issued a low altitude alert to the pilot. The pilot acknowledged the call and stated, at 1101:50, that he was climbing. About 20 seconds later, the controller advised the pilot that he was drifting north of course. The pilot did not acknowledge the call. At 1102:36, the controller issued another low altitude alert and asked the pilot if he was still on the approach. The pilot responded that he was not. Radar and radio contact were lost about 1103.

The airplane collided with trees and terrain on a heading of about 070° in a wooded area behind a residence. The wreckage path was about 300 ft in length. The airframe was highly fragmented. There was a postaccident fire that consumed about 20% of the wreckage. The engine separated from the firewall and the propeller separated from the engine during the impact sequence. All primary structural components and flight control surfaces were accounted for within the debris field.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land and instrument ratings. Federal Aviation Administration records revealed that he purchased the airplane new in 2006. According to his pilot logbook, his total flight time was about 1,945 hours. He completed a flight review on January 15, 2018.

The composite-construction, four-seat airplane was equipped with a Continental TSIO-550-C engine rated at 310 horsepower. The engine was fitted with a three-bladed Hartzell constant speed propeller. According to the airplane logbooks, an annual inspection on the airframe and engine was completed on December 14, 2017 at 1,339 hours total aircraft time.

BED was located about 4.8 miles west of the accident site. The 1108 weather observation at BED included wind calm, an overcast ceiling at 600 ft, visibility 2 statute miles with mist, temperature 19°C, dew point 18°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.21 inches of mercury.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.