What happened
During a nighttime NDB approach toward Burlington Airport, a twin engine airplane struck treetops while descending. The impact occurred in a forested region of Woking, situated roughly 1.5 miles short of runway 15. Following the collision with the trees, the aircraft entered a stall and subsequently caught fire. The resulting post-crash blaze completely destroyed the airframe. There were four fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was the result of improper IFR operation by the pilot. Several environmental conditions contributed to the difficulty of the approach, including low cloud ceilings and active snowfall. These factors resulted in visibility levels falling below established minimums. Additionally, the presence of high obstructions and the aircraft's descent below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) led to the collision with trees near the outer marker.