What happened
During an instrument flight rules (IFR) approach, the Continental Express flight 2286, a commercial aircraft, descended below the required minimum altitude. The aircraft struck the ground at an elevation of 7,180 feet MSL. Radar analysis confirmed that the aircraft experienced an excessive rate of descent immediately preceding the impact with the terrain.
At the time of the accident, the co-pilot was responsible for the flight controls. Environmental conditions during the approach included a tailwind ranging from 10 to 15 knots. There were no mechanical failures or system malfunctions identified in the wreckage following an examination of the aircraft.
Findings
The investigation determined that the approach was unstabilized and that the crew failed to maintain the published descent profile. A critical factor involved the captain's inability to effectively monitor the co-pilot's flying. Postmortem toxicology reports revealed that the captain had consumed cocaine before the flight, which significantly impaired his ability to supervise the approach.
Additionally, the investigation reviewed the professional histories of both crew members, noting that both individuals had records of previous traffic violations and accidents. The captain also had a history involving a prior aircraft accident.