Investigation Summary
Flight 1030X was an extra scheduled service transporting migrant farm workers from Paris to Jersey. The weather in the Channel Islands was severely degraded, with visibility reported as low as 80 meters and a Runway Visual Range (RVR) of 200 meters. Despite receiving these reports 100 miles out and again during the descent, the captain elected to attempt an ILS approach. When questioned by the approach controller about his intentions, the pilot replied: 'We'll come down the ILS and then overshoot and go to Dinard.' After an initial aborted landing, the crew attempted a second approach rather than diverting immediately. Radar guidance from Jersey Approach supplemented the ILS data, but the aircraft descended below the safe glide path. At 18:06 GMT, the starboard wing impacted the outermost pole of the approach lighting system at a height of 58 feet, approximately 3,000 feet from the runway threshold. The impact severed the wing, and the Douglas C-47 rolled onto its back before diving into the ground. The forward fuselage was crushed and consumed by fire, while the tail section separated, allowing the lone survivor to escape with non-fatal injuries.
Final Conclusions
The accident investigation concluded that the primary cause was the pilot's decision to attempt a landing in visibility conditions that were far below the limits established in the airline's operations manual. The pilot disregarded the approach ban and flew the aircraft below the safe approach path during the final stages of the ILS approach. The investigation also noted that the rigid construction of the approach lighting poles contributed to the severity of the wing damage upon impact.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
First Officer
Systems & Failure Modes
Instrument Landing System (ILS)
A precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather.
Approach Lighting System
A series of lightbeams extending outward from the approach end of a runway; the aircraft struck the outermost pole of this system.
Decca 424 Radar
Ground-based radar used by the Jersey controller to provide distance-from-touchdown information to the crew during the approach.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Douglas C-47B built in 1945 and converted for civil use.
- 02The sole survivor was a French flight attendant who suffered two broken legs.
- 03Most passengers were migrant farm workers from France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
- 04The starboard wing hit the light pole at a height of 58 feet above runway level.
- 05The weather at the time of the crash included visibility of only 80 meters.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Frangible Masts Implementation
The accident report recommended that approach lights be mounted on frangible (breakable) masts to prevent catastrophic structural failure if struck by an aircraft.
Weather Regulation Review
The report recommended a re-consideration of flight operation regulations regarding minimum visibility requirements for landing attempts in poor weather.