What happened
During an emergency medical service flight, the pilot conducted an ILS approach to runway 03 under conditions of heavy fog and darkness. Prior to the flight, the pilot had noted concerns regarding potential low visibility and the impact on the timely transport of a critically ill patient. During the descent, the aircraft maintained an altitude significantly above the glide slope until approaching the middle marker. During this phase, the aircraft's airspeed dropped from 153 to 100 knots, while the rate of descent increased from 711 feet per minute to approximately 1,250 feet per minute.
Approximately one mile from the runway at an altitude of 500 feet, the aircraft deviated sharply to the left of the localizer course. The plane continued a gradual descent without any distress signals being transmitted by the crew. The aircraft subsequently struck a utility pole and crashed into a building, which then caught fire. Of the occupants on board, only the paramedic survived, while the two fatalities included the pilot and the flight nurse.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the weather conditions, specifically the ceiling and visibility at the destination, were worse than what was provided in the pilot's preflight weather briefing. While the pilot possessed 3,500 total flight hours, including 150 hours in multiengine aircraft, evidence indicated a lack of proficiency with instrument approaches in fixed-wing aircraft, following recent difficulties during training and FAA check flights.
No mechanical failures were identified in the engines or the aircraft itself, and no anomalies were found with the ILS equipment. Although the flight nurse was using a cellular device during the flight, investigators found no evidence that the phone interfered with the aircraft's navigation systems.