Incident Overview

Description
An Embraer 110P1 Bandeirante turboprop plane, registration OH-EBA, was destroyed when it contacted trees and crashed about 1 km from Seinjoki-Ilmajoki Airport (SJY), Finland. Wasa Wings flight WW701 had departed Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) at 06:20 on a domestic flight to Seinjoki were it was scheduled to arrive at 07:15. Weather at the airport was poor with a reported runway visual range (RVR) of 1200 m (3940 feet) and a vertical visibility of 300 feet (90 m). The crew was conducting an NDB approach to runway 32 but drifted to the left of the extended centreline of the runway. The airplane continued the descent until it struck trees to the South of the runway. CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT: The immediate cause of the accident was the decision to continue the NDB approach in difficult visibility circumstances. The airplane descended below minimum altitude without the required visual contact with approach lights or the runway. Contributory factors were the airline’s poor safety culture due to pressures of performance, highlighted by the pilot because of his personality structure.
Primary Cause
The pilot’s decision to continue an NDB approach in poor visibility conditions, leading to insufficient visual contact and descent below minimum altitude.The pilot’s decision to continue an NDB approach in poor visibility conditions, leading to insufficient visual contact and descent below minimum altitude.Share on: