What happened
During a nighttime approach to Shemya Airport, an aircraft encountered severe weather characterized by fog, snowfall, and significant turbulence. While on final approach, the crew did not maintain sufficient altitude, leading to the aircraft striking the ground several hundred yards before reaching the runway threshold.
As a result of the impact, there were 6 fatalities among the occupants. Emergency responders were able to successfully rescue the remaining 18 survivors from the wreckage.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicate that the primary factor was the crew's failure to recognize that the aircraft had descended below a safe altitude during the approach phase.