What happened
During a scheduled night flight arriving from Frankfurt, an aircraft was performing an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to Runway 2LE at Gatwick Airport. Although the sky was generally clear, freezing fog reduced the runway visual range to 100 metres. While the autopilot was initially engaged, the pilot in command disconnected the system following the illumination of a stabilizer out-of-trim warning light.
As the flight progressed toward the outer marker, the crew transitioned the flap configuration from 1° to 30°. This maneuver caused an increase in the descent rate, leading the aircraft to drop below the established glide-slope. Approximately 200 feet above the ground, the pilot attempted a missed approach; however, the descent could not be corrected before the plane struck trees and a residential building. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in 50 fatalities (including 48 on board and two residents of the house) and 14 injuries. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
Findings
Investigators concluded that the primary cause was the pilot's unintentional descent below the glide-slope during the final approach phase. Several contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot's decision to attempt an approach was influenced by deceptive weather conditions.
- An improper flap configuration during glide-slope interception triggered the stabilizer out-of-trim warning, prompting the pilot to take manual control.
- The late and out-of-sequence selection of 30° flaps while flying manually caused a rapid increase in the rate of descent.
- The pilot's focus was likely directed toward seeking visual references outside the cockpit rather than monitoring flight instruments during the critical descent.
- The crew failed to recognize the deviation from the glide-slope until it was too late to recover the aircraft.