What happened
During the early morning hours of the flight, a cargo mission designated as flight BCS18D departed from Leipzig-Halle Airport, destined for Vilnius. The aircraft, operated by DHL Airways, was transporting two crew members and two passengers at the time of the accident.
As the flight approached Vilnius Airport under nighttime conditions and marginal weather, the aircraft type descended below the required altitude. The plane struck a residential area, impacting houses and subsequently catching fire. The wreckage was located approximately 1,400 metres before the threshold of runway 19. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane. Among the four people on board, one fatality was recorded, specifically the pilot, while the remaining three occupants sustained injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in marginal weather conditions during a night approach.
- The descent profile was insufficient, leading to the impact with structures short of the runway.