Pilot Killed After Approach Went Awry

A Beech Bonanza A-36 went down a wooded area of New Jersey Friday while the pilot was apparently attempting to land at Atlantic City Int'l Airport. The pilot was the only person on board, suffering fatal injuries. The IO-520 powered Beechcraft Bonanza prematurely terminated its approach into a densely wooded area, coming apart in the ensuing impact, approximately a half mile short of the runway threshold.

The Bonanza took off from Columbia (SC), according to FAA Spokesman Jim Peters, who did not disclose the pilot's identity. Another FAA staffer, Holly Baker, indicated that the tower controller on duty, lost contact with the four/six place aircraft during the unsuccessful approach after a landing clearance was issued. The accident occurred at approximately 1630 in poor weather, which featured precip as well as fog. 

Search and rescue workers were dispatched to the scene, finding only the A-36's tail section intact, but the rest of the airframe burned and distorted by the impact. The aircraft, N256PR, is listed in the FAA registry as a 1973 Beech A-36. The aircraft was registered to Ray's Aviation Inc. of Wilmington (DE). Peters reported that the aircraft was executing a flight plan at the time of the accident. 

FMI: www.ntsb.gov