Landing (descent or approach)

The twin engine aircraft was performing an on-demand taxi flight from Bergen to Dagali, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. The descent to Dagali Airport was completed visually by night and poor weather conditions with clouds down to 1,200 feet and a visibility near minima. On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft crashed in a hilly and snowy terrain located 5 km short of runway 26. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while seven other occupants were injured.

On final approach to Araxá-Romeu Zema Airport runway 33, the twin engine aircraft touched down few dozen metres short of the new displaced threshold as there were construction road in the pre-threshold area. The left main gear struck an excavation and was torn off. The left wing and the left engine struck the ground and the aircraft veered off to the left and came to rest 200 metres further. All seven occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The flight had been cleared for the VOR-A approach, with instructions to circle to a right downwind and land on runway 14. The tower controller observed the airplane emerge from the overcast over runway 23 abeam the VOR, then make a tight right turn onto the downwind leg, parallel to runway 14 and close in. When the airplane was abeam the runway 14 threshold, she observed the nose pitch up, and the airplane did what she described as a wing over. It then dove and impacted the runway near the threshold. The controller stated that the pilot made this round trip every day, and she had seen him do this maneuver on several occasions. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The approach to Lanyu Islands Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls when the aircraft struck the water surface and crashed in the sea few km offshore. All six occupants were killed.

The pilot was cleared for an instrument approach to the airport. Once clear of clouds, the pilot was observed circling at low altitude on a closed left downwind for runway 30. Witnesses observed that on the turn from base to final, a very steep angle of bank was established as the engine power was heard being increased. Control was lost and the airplane impacted the ground inverted in a nose low attitude. A post impact fire consumed the airplane. The weather at the airport was reported as 900 overcast with 2 miles visibility in fog and haze with a light mist. Official sunset was one minute prior to the impact. Both occupants were killed.

The instrument rated pilot was en route to pick up cargo. He received three preflight weather briefings earlier that indicated snow, mountain obscuration, and low visibility. He reported, 'seeing the lights of university,' and requested a contact approach. He also said that if he could not get in, he would make an ils approach. When the airplane was 4 miles south of the airport, the New York air traffic controller cleared the pilot for a contact approach to runway 24. A witness reported hearing a low flying airplane. He stated that it was snowing heavily and he saw the tail light of an airplane briefly through the snow. He also reported that a snow squall was in the area at the time. Shortly afterward, he heard what was later determined to be the sound of the collision. Search personnel located the wreckage 3.3 miles south of the airport on top of mount nittany which was about 2000 feet high. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot stated that when the flight was on final approach, 'the aircraft suddenly stopped flying and contacted the snow...came to a stop about 500 feet down the runway on the centerline. All 3 gears were folded back.' The airplane had been washed the night before and then rolled outside into -5° temperature. Ice was found in the airplane static system.

The pilot tried to activate the radio-controlled runway boundary lights about 10 miles away, and also while he was in the traffic pattern, but he was unsuccessful. He continued his descent to approximately 500 feet above the ground using the vasi (visual approach slope indicator) lights. The pilot stated that he had the airport in sight and' felt well enough in sight to complete landing.' The airplane touched down in approximately 18 inches of snow 60 feet off the right side of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction. He said as he got closer to the ground he realized it was snow-mobile tracks and not the runway. He tried to go-around but the airplane impacted the ground collapsing the nose gear.

For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard at Cancún Airport, causing the right main gear to collapsed upon touchdown. The aircraft came to rest on the runway and was damaged beyond repair. All 43 occupants escaped uninjured.

Upon landing at Aurillac Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.