Southend - Helsinki

On February 24, 1989 at 11:50 PM, Southend - Helsinki experienced a crash involving Swearingen SA226T Merlin III, operated by Predator, with the event recorded near Helsinki-Vantaa Uusimaa.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 87.5%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 6, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The twin engine aircraft was completing a night charter flight from Southend to Helsinki, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. On final approach to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport runway 22, the pilot elected to reduce the speed when the aircraft lost altitude, descended below the MDA, struck the ground and came to rest inverted in a snow covered field located about one km short of runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N26RT, MSN T-216, year of manufacture 1971.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 60.3045°, 24.8696°.