What happened
A charter flight was conducting a repositioning leg to a destination where passengers were scheduled to connect to a subsequent flight. During the approach from the east, the aircraft type was descending at 250 knots ground speed from 8,800 feet MSL on a heading of 270 degrees. The controller instructed the aircraft to enter a right downwind for runway 10. During this phase, the approach controller noticed an error in the altitude readout on the radar screen.
When questioned about the altitude discrepancy, the pilot stated they were descending to 3,200 feet MSL. The controller informed the pilot that the minimum vectoring altitude (MVA) for that specific area was 5,500 feet MSL and asked the pilot to confirm they were operating under visual flight rules (VFR). The pilot indicated that the aircraft was currently flying through intermittent cloud cover. Despite being instructed to maintain VFR and being reminded of the MVA, the pilot failed to respond to subsequent radio calls. The aircraft subsequently impacted a mountainside after encountering instrument meteorological conditions.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that the pilot was operating the flight for a different company than the one listed on the documentation, as the pilot lacked the necessary permissions to operate within the United Kingdom Overseas Territories. The pilot, who also owned the charter operation, may have been influenced by the pressure of a late departure.
While the aircraft was equipped with a terrain avoidance warning system, its operational status at the time of the accident could not be confirmed. The investigation noted that because the aircraft was operating under VFR, the pilot was not required to adhere to minimum instrument altitudes, and the controller's radar services did not automatically include minimum safe altitude warnings. The pilot's descent below the MVA was the primary factor leading to the CFIT accident.