What happened
During a nighttime descent toward Newburgh-Stewart Airport, the pilot of a twin engine airplane encountered challenging meteorological conditions. While navigating through marginal visibility and heavy traffic, the pilot notified air traffic control regarding the presence of icing. Due to high congestion in the area, the aircraft was directed into a holding pattern.
As the flight progressed toward its final approach, the aircraft experienced a loss of lift and stalled approximately 1,600 feet before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in one serious injury to the pilot, who was the only person on board at the time of the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several environmental factors that contributed to the accident. The aircraft was operating in conditions characterized by fog and visibility restricted to three miles or less. Furthermore, the airframe was impacted by active icing, specifically involving sleet and freezing rain.
The primary factor leading to the crash was a stall during the approach phase, which was driven by improper decision-making while in flight.