What happened
During an approach to the Saint Louis-Downtown Airport, a twin engine airplane encountered challenging weather conditions characterized by fog and limited visibility. As the crew attempted a localizer approach, the aircraft descended into power cables located near Centreville. The subsequent impact caused the plane to crash.
There were six people on board during the accident. The crash resulted in three fatalities and left three others injured.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary reason for the accident was the collision with wires and poles while performing an instrument flight rules approach. Several environmental factors contributed to the event, including:
- Presence of icing conditions involving freezing rain and sleet
- Low cloud ceilings and visibility restricted to three miles or less
- Dense fog during the final approach phase