Southend - Helsinki
Flight / Schedule
Southend - Helsinki
Aircraft
Swearingen SA226T Merlin IIIRegistration
N26RT
MSN
T-216
Year of Manufacture
1971
Operator
PredatorDate
February 24, 1989 at 11:50 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Helsinki-Vantaa Uusimaa
Region
Europe • Finland
Coordinates
60.3045°, 24.8696°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
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°.
Fatalities
Total
7
Crew
1
Passengers
6
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
1
Passengers On Board
7
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
87.5%
Known people on board: 8
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Southend - Helsinki
Operator
PredatorFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Europe • Finland
Aircraft Details
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