At about 1145 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while on an IFR approach. The instrument-rated private pilot, a private pilot-rated passenger and two other passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed at the destination airport at the time of the accident. Preliminary radar data indicated the airplane varied altitude and heading outside the final approach fix and impacted terrain 11 miles south of the runways approach end. Three witnesses heard the engine running prior to impact and two witnesses observed the airplane shortly before impact in a nose-low attitude. The airplane was heard to “circle” over two of the witness location and pass over their home twice within less than a minute before impact.
