What happened
During a nighttime approach into Milwaukee-General Billy Mitchell Airport under marginal weather conditions, a twin engine airplane collided with the airport's approach lighting system. While descending toward the runway, the aircraft's altitude was insufficient to clear the lights, leading to an impact that caused the plane to lose height. Following the collision, the aircraft struck a fence before coming to a final stop near the threshold of the runway.
There was only one person on board at the time of the accident. The pilot sustained one injury, and the aircraft suffered damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several environmental and operational factors. The flight was occurring amidst low visibility caused by fog and rain, which contributed to the difficulty of the approach. The investigation determined that the pilot misjudged both the distance to the runway and the aircraft's actual altitude.
Crucially, an error in the altimeter setting played a significant role in the accident. It was discovered that the altitude indicated on the instruments was actually 180 feet higher than the plane's true position. This discrepancy, combined with improper IFR procedures, led to the undershoot and subsequent collision with the approach lights.