What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2006-01-12 involved a aircraft, at Freiburg, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the crew's decision to operate under night VFR in marginal weather conditions and the subsequent decision to continue the approach into Freiburg despite visibility being below safe limits.

Fatal Nighttime VFR Approach in Freiburg

A Beech B300 crashed into trees during a night approach at Freiburg, resulting in the deaths of both pilots due to marginal weather conditions.

What happened

On the evening of January 12, 2006, a Beech B300 was conducting a commercial flight sequence. After completing a passenger transport mission between Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden and Braunschweig, the crew prepared for a repositioning flight from Karlsruhe to Freiburg. Although the aircraft was equipped for instrument flight rules (IFR), the crew decided to conduct this leg under night visual flight rules (VFR).

While flying south at 4,500 feet, the commander contacted the Freiburg tower to inquire about the local weather. The tower controller noted that conditions were deteriorating to the north and west, though visibility toward the south remained relatively clear. Despite the potential for worsening conditions due to an approaching north wind, the crew proceeded with the approach.

During the approach, the aircraft performed 180-degree turns to align with runway 16. As the aircraft descended, the crew utilized the autopilot and configured the aircraft for landing by extending the flaps and landing gear. At approximately 18:26, the aircraft struck trees roughly 45 and 700 meters before the runway threshold, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of two crew members.

The investigation

The BFU investigation examined the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, and the wreckage. The investigation focused on the decision-making process regarding the flight rules chosen and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators also reviewed the operator's operational manual and the implementation of crew resource management (CRM) and multi-crew concepts.

Findings

The aircraft was fully functional, with no evidence of mechanical failure or technical defects.
Both pilots were medically fit and properly licensed.
Meteorological data indicated that the area was classified as closed for general aviation due to poor visibility and low cloud ceilings.
At the time of the crash, the cloud ceiling was reported at approximately 100 feet AGL, and visibility at the crash site was significantly reduced to between 300 and 400 meters.
The crew failed to initiate a missed approach despite radio altimeter warnings at 500 feet and 100 feet.
The decision to fly under night VFR despite marginal weather conditions and the decision to continue the approach in insufficient visibility were the primary causes of the accident.