Belfast – Cork

On February 10, 2011 at 09:50 AM, Belfast – Cork experienced a crash involving Swearingen SA227 Metro III, operated by Manx2, with the event recorded near Cork Munster.

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

12 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 10, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed Belfast City Airport (EGAC) on an international scheduled passenger service to Cork Airport (EICK). Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) were in operation at the destination. The aircraft carried out two ILS1 approaches, each followed by a missed approach. The aircraft then entered a holding pattern following which a third ILS approach was made to Runway (RWY) 17. The approach was continued below Decision Height (200 ft) and a missed approach was initiated. Approaching the runway threshold, the aircraft rolled to the left followed by a rapid roll to the right during which the right wingtip contacted the runway surface. The aircraft continued to roll and impacted the runway in a fully inverted position. The aircraft departed the runway surface to the right and came to rest in soft ground. A significant quantity of mud entered the aircraft through a fracture in the roof, partially filling the cabin. Six persons (including the two Flight Crew members) were fatally injured, four were seriously injured and two received minor injuries. The propeller blades on both engines were severely damaged; three of the four propeller blades on the right-hand engine detached during the impact sequence. Fire occurred in both engines after impact. These fires were extinguished expeditiously by the Airport Fire Service.

Aircraft reference details include registration EC-ITP, MSN BC-789B, year of manufacture 1992.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.8328°, -8.3053°.