What happened
On December 9, 2007, a Beech C 90A, registration D-IBHN, was performing a flight from Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, to Kyiv (Zhulyany), Ukraine. The flight, operated by a Czech entity, was intended to proceed via visual flight rules (VFR) before transitioning to instrument flight rules (IFR) at FL230.
During the final approach to Kyiv (Zhulyany), the aircraft encountered weather conditions significantly below the airport's published minimums, including low visibility (2000m with haze) and low cloud ceilings (3m to 900m). Radar data indicates that the aircraft was highly unstable during its approach, experiencing significant deviations from the runway centerline and glidepath. At one point, the aircraft was up to 900 meters left of the centerline and 125 meters above the glidepath.
At 14:59 UTC, while in a right bank and descending at a vertical rate of 18 m/s with an indicated airspeed of 220 knots, the aircraft struck an obstacle and the ground. The impact occurred approximately 930 meters from the DME and 2590 meters from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire. All 5 occupants, including the pilot and four passengers, were killed.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine, examined the aircraft's technical condition, meteorological data, and air traffic control (ATC) communications. Investigators analyzed radar tracks to reconstruct the flight path and reviewed the pilot's training and medical records. The investigation also looked into the maintenance history of the aircraft, noting that while the engines and airframe were found to be in serviceable condition, documentation for the most recent maintenance performed in Hradec Králové was unavailable.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the attempt to conduct an approach in meteorological conditions below the published airport minimums.
- The pilot executed the approach at speeds significantly higher than recommended for this aircraft type during the final stages of landing.
- The aircraft exhibited extreme lateral and vertical deviations from the established approach path.
- The crew failed to respond to two instructions from ATC to execute a missed approach (go-around) issued shortly before the impact.
- The aircraft's descent rate during the final moments was excessive, leading to the collision with an obstacle and the ground.