What happened
While performing an ILS/DME approach to runway 27, the aircraft struck the water approximately 2.7 miles east of the runway threshold. At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Boston were characterized by fog, haze, and partial obscuration, with visibility limited to 4 miles and a heavy overcast layer at 25,000 feet. Other pilots in the area also reported encountering low ceilings and significant fog banks near the site of the impact.
The pilot indicated that he was conducting the approach using flight instruments but ultimately landed short of the runway for reasons that were not immediately determined. Following the crash, the crew members were located by local fishermen who responded to the sound of the impact and followed voices heard through the fog. The incident resulted in one fatality and one injury, with the captain surviving the crash and the copilot losing their life.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing environmental factors, including low ceilings, fog, and haze. Additionally, the investigation concluded that there were procedural errors regarding IFR operations. Specifically, the pilot in command failed to properly identify the decision height during the approach.