What happened
During a nighttime approach to the Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh Airport, an aircraft struck the tops of trees and crashed approximately three miles before reaching the runway. The impact occurred while the flight was in its final approach phase. The accident resulted in seven injuries, with all occupants sustaining serious harm. The aircraft involved was completely destroyed during the collision.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the crew failed to maintain the necessary altitude during the descent. Specifically, the aircraft was flying roughly 950 feet below the required glide slope at the time of impact. The primary factor contributing to the crash was improper IFR operation, as the crew either misread or neglected to monitor the flight instruments correctly while navigating the approach.