Approach and landing accident involving aircraft collision with blast fence

8 fatalities • Stratford-Igor I. Sikorsky, United States of America • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft struck a blast fence during an approach in heavy fog, resulting in the destruction of the plane and multiple injuries.

What happened

During the approach phase of flight, the pilot failed to follow the established ILS glideslope despite having the necessary glideslope data available. Due to the presence of ground fog, the visibility of the airport environment was partially obscured, which prevented the crew from realizing that the aircraft type was flying too high on both the approach and the final landing segment.

As a result of the high approach, the aircraft collided with a blast fence. This impact led to the total destruction of the airplane and caused multiple injuries among the occupants.

Findings

Several contributing factors were identified following the accident. The primary cause was the pilot's failure to fly the ILS glideslope, exacerbated by low visibility from ground fog. Additionally, the investigation noted that efforts by the FAA to coordinate with local communities to secure funding for runway safety area enhancements and the installation of approach lighting for runway 6 had not been successful.

Internal maintenance and configuration issues were also discovered within the cabin. Specifically, the passenger seats had been put together using unapproved components, and the seat belt installation was found to be incorrect.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to maintain the prescribed glideslope during a low-visibility approach, leading to a collision with a blast fence.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1994-04-27 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident near Stratford-Igor I. Sikorsky, United States of America?

An aircraft struck a blast fence during an approach in heavy fog, resulting in the destruction of the plane and multiple injuries.

Were there any fatalities in the 1994-04-27 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 8 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1994-04-27 involved a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, registration N990RA, operated by Action Airlines, at Stratford-Igor I. Sikorsky, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot failed to maintain the prescribed glideslope during a low-visibility approach, leading to a collision with a blast fence.

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