At about 0245 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with the ground short of the runway. Night instrument conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were killed. One of the passengers was being flown to a hospital in preparation for an organ transplant. According to an employee at an FBO, the pilot contacted him via radio between 0200 and 0300 and asked about the weather. The employee replied that the visibility was low due to fog, and he could not see the terminal lights from the FBO. According to the FAA, ATC cleared the flight for an ILS approach to Runway 29 at about 0240; the control tower was closed. Radar contact was lost with the accident airplane about 0245. The last recorded radar target was about 1.25 miles east of the airport, at 400 feet MSL. The wreckage was located approximately 3575 feet from the Runway 29 threshold. Reported weather at the destination, at 0253, included calm winds, visibility of mile in fog and vertical visibility of 100 feet.
November 7, 2008, Gainesville, Fla., Partenavia SPA P.68C
At about 0245 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with the ground short of the runway. Night instrument conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were killed. One of the passengers was being flown to a hospital in preparation for an organ transplant. According to an employee at an FBO, the pilot contacted him via radio between 0200 and 0300 and asked about the weather. The employee replied that the visibility was low due to fog, and he could not see the terminal lights from the FBO. According to the FAA, ATC cleared the flight for an ILS approach to Runway 29 at about 0240; the control tower was closed.
Key Takeaways:
- An airplane crashed short of the runway around 0245 ET, resulting in substantial damage and the deaths of the airline transport pilot and two passengers, one being transported for an organ transplant.
- The accident occurred under severe night instrument conditions, with reported visibility of 1/8 mile in fog and a vertical visibility of 100 feet.
- The pilot had been cleared for an ILS approach to Runway 29; radar contact was lost about 1.25 miles from the airport, and the control tower was closed at the time.
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