LEICESTER, MA, USA
N1ZB
BEECH 55
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 11, AT NIGHT. THE REPORTED VISIBILITY WAS 8 MILES WITH LIGHT RAIN. HE DROPPED BELOW THE GLIDE PATH AND STRUCK AN APPROACH LIGHT TOWER ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN AT NIGHT IN ABOUT 90 DAYS. ALSO, HE HAD ONLY FLOWN ABOUT 4 TIMES IN THIS PERIOD. EXAMINATION REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINES, AND THE ILS WAS FLIGHT TESTED SATISFACTORILY. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE 'ON A GRADUAL DECLINE...HIT THE POLE.'
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE PATH. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE AND HIS LACK OF RECENT INSTRUMENT EXPERIENCED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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