On December 29, 1992, a Beech C24R (registration N3809Q) operated by Robertson, James R. was involved in an aviation accident near Tulsa, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S DISREGARD OF AND DESCENT BELOW THE PUBLISHED DECISION HEIGHT. FACTORS WERE HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GLIDE PATH AND LOCALIZER ALIGNMENT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a dark night ILS approach in instrument meteorological conditions, an airplane struck trees at 50 feet above ground level, 150 feet below decision height, then impacted the ground and burned. The trees were located half a mile short and left of the landing runway's extended centerline.
Accident Overview
An airplane executing an instrument landing system (ILS) approach in dark night instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) struck trees at an altitude of 50 feet above ground level (AGL), approximately 150 feet below the decision height. After the initial tree impact, the airplane subsequently hit the ground and was consumed by fire.
Approach Conditions
The approach was conducted to a runway that was not equipped with an approach lighting system. The airplane impacted trees about half a mile short of and half a mile left of the extended centerline of the intended landing runway. A parallel runway, extending 1,000 feet beyond the landing runway, was available and equipped with an ILS, a medium intensity approach lighting system with sequenced flashing lights, and runway centerline lights. The airplane struck the trees roughly midway between the two runways, on a heading toward the second, better-equipped runway.