Flight 1808 Crash: Unstabilized Approach Leads to Fatal Collision (N300WP)

Incident Overview and Timeline Flight 1808 departed Boston runway 04L at 21:30, bound for Auburn. The flight was cleared to 7,000 feet with instructions to contact Portland Approach Control. At 21:58, Portland Approach cleared the aircraft for a runway 04 ILS approach. Three minutes later, the controller observed the aircraft was east of course and inquired if the crew was receiving the Lewiston localizer. The captain reported they were not receiving it and was instructed to turn left to heading 340. ## Approach and Impact The aircraft began a left turn to 354° and passed the Lewiston Outer Marker (LOM) at 165 knots and 2,600 feet, which was 30 knots too fast and 600 feet too high. At 22:02, the aircraft exited the left side of the localizer while maintaining a 354° heading. The crew attempted to capture the glide slope and re-enter the localizer. At 22:04:08, the aircraft entered the left side of the localizer and descended through the bottom boundary of the glide slope. At approximately 22:04:16, the aircraft struck trees 4,007 feet short of the runway and 440 feet right of the extended centerline. It continued for 737 feet before striking level ground in a nearly inverted attitude. ## Casualties Among the passengers killed in the crash was Samantha Smith, an American schoolgirl, peace activist, and child actress. She was returning to Auburn with her father after participating in a TV movie in Boston.