BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLT DEPARTED, THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT & ADVISED THE BRIEFER THAT THERE WERE RAIN SHOWERS AT THE ARPT. THE BRIEFER ADVISED THE PLT THEY WOULD PASS THROUGH IN 30-45 MINUTES, THEN THE AREA WOULD BE CLEAR. THE PLT CALLED AGAIN, RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING & FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLT DEPARTED, AND THE PLT ACTIVATED HIS FLT PLAN. THERE WAS NO FURTHER RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PLT. WITNESSES NEAR THE DESTINATION ARPT REPORTED HEARING AN ACFT MAKE TWO PASSES TO THE SOUTH ORIENTED RWY IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND DURING THE DARK NIGHT. DURING THE THIRD APPROACH, THE ACFT STALLED & CRASHED APRX 1/4 MILE SHORT OF THE RWY. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS VERIFIED. THERE WAS NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENG. REVIEW OF THE PLT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A BREAK IN HIS FLYING FROM 7/24/89 TO 6/20/92. THE LAST ENTRY LOGGED WAS A NIGHT FLT ON 7/19/92. THE PREVIOUS NIGHT FLT WAS ON 7/8/89. IN THE PREVIOUS 3 YRS ONLY 1 NIGHT LANDING LOGGED AT THE DESTINATION ARPT.