What happened
During a night-time Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach, an aircraft struck trees and terrain roughly 2.1 miles from the runway threshold. Radar monitoring showed the aircraft maintained a high position on the glideslope until it began a sudden descent from an altitude of approximately 2,300 feet. A witness observed the aircraft flying at mid-throttle before hearing the engines increase power immediately prior to the impact.
Environmental conditions at the time of the accident were characterized by extremely low visibility and no active precipitation. However, weather conditions were highly unstable, with reports of severe winds originating from the south and shifting erratically from the east. Several pilots operating larger transport category aircraft in the vicinity during the same period noted significant turbulence. Specifically, three pilots experienced crosswinds ranging from 15 to 50 knots, while four pilots noted airspeed fluctuations of up to 10 knots. Additionally, three pilots reported breaking through the cloud layer at altitudes between 200 and 300 feet.
Findings
Post-accident inspections of the airframe, engines, and propeller governors showed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that could have caused the loss of control. The investigation focused on the severe wind shifts and volatile weather conditions present during the approach.