What happened
While performing a nighttime approach to Nantucket, an aircraft encountered heavy fog. Despite the reduced visibility, the crew elected to proceed with the landing sequence. During this maneuver, the aircraft type struck the ground and subsequently caught fire, coming to rest approximately 1,450 feet before reaching runway 24.
The accident resulted in a total of 25 fatalities, including all three crew members and 22 passengers. Additionally, nine individuals sustained injuries, with several of those victims suffering from serious conditions.
Findings
Investigation into the crash identified that the primary factor was the pilot's inadequate decision-making and flight technique during an instrument approach in poor weather. The pilot failed to abort the descent despite reports indicating visibility had dropped to only one-eighth of a mile. Furthermore, the aircraft was descending to an unsafe altitude while still a significant distance from the runway threshold.