What happened
During a nighttime approach to Burlington Airport, an aircraft crashed several miles from the airfield. The flight was operating under challenging meteorological conditions characterized by poor visibility and precipitation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane and the death of the pilot.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the aircraft experienced a stall during its approach to the airport. This loss of control was primarily driven by the pilot's failure to adhere to established flight procedures. Several environmental and operational factors contributed to the accident:
- The presence of airframe ice, including rime ice that was already on the aircraft at departure
- Adverse weather conditions involving haze, sleet, and freezing rain
- An inability to maintain the necessary airspeed for safe flight
- Improper use or total failure to utilize miscellaneous cockpit equipment
- Deicing switches were discovered in the OFF position during the investigation