Preliminary Report: Embraer makes improper descent

Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante, Pownal, Vt., Aug 4, 2006–The 2,875-hour ATP-rated pilot of Air Now’s EMB-110 was killed when the airplane hit a mountain in Vermont in instrument conditions after his second approach to William H. Morse State Airport. The airplane made the IFR flight from Binghamton, N.Y., to Bennington, Vt., to undergo maintenance.

Radar data showed that on the second attempt the Bandeirante passed over the VOR on course at about 3,400 feet but did not start to descend until reaching the airport. The airplane continued until last radar contact about two nm past the airport at 2,600 feet.