Accident Overview
On a night approach to Nantucket, an aircraft entered an area of fog. The crew elected to continue the approach, but the airplane struck the ground approximately 1,450 feet short of runway 24, causing a crash and subsequent fire. All three crew members and 22 passengers were killed, while nine other individuals sustained injuries, some of them serious.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft was conducting an instrument approach to Nantucket in nighttime conditions. The crew reportedly received weather information indicating a visibility of one-eighth mile. Despite the adverse weather, the flight crew decided to proceed with the approach. The airplane descended to a dangerously low altitude while still a considerable distance from the runway, ultimately colliding with terrain short of the intended landing area.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be the deficient judgment and technique of the pilot during an instrument approach in adverse weather conditions. The pilot failed to abandon the approach when a visibility of one-eighth mile was reported and descended to a dangerously low altitude while still a considerable distance from the runway.