On 10 March 2024, an Israel Aircraft Industries 1125 Westwind Astra business jet was approaching Ingalls Field Airport in Hot Springs, Virginia, following an otherwise uneventful flight. The aircraft was descending from cruise altitude for landing at the mountainous airport, which sits on a ridge and presents a challenging approach environment. As the crew prepared for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach, air traffic control issued descent clearances and provided an altimeter setting. However, cockpit voice recordings later showed that the crew did not properly cross-check or confirm the altimeter setting during the descent.
As the aircraft turned onto the final approach, the pilots configured the autopilot in vertical speed mode, which maintained a set rate of descent rather than following the ILS glideslope. At the same time, the approach was not properly armed, and the ILS frequency was likely not correctly tuned. As a result, the aircraft did not capture the glideslope and continued descending below the correct approach path without appropriate visual or system guidance.
During the final stages of the approach, the aircraft deviated significantly below the glideslope and descended below the minimum required altitudes. About three minutes before the accident, the airplane was already below its assigned altitude, though the crew indicated they were at the correct level. As they continued, the aircraft remained unstable, with excessive descent rate and speed, and was well below the proper glidepath.
Despite these deviations, the pilot in command continued the approach. The second-in-command recognised that the approach was unsafe and called for a go-around twice in quick succession as the aircraft descended toward the runway. These calls were not acted upon. Seconds later, the aircraft, still below the correct glidepath, struck rising terrain approximately 300 feet short of the runway threshold. The impact destroyed the aircraft and resulted in the deaths of all five occupants.
The investigation determined that several factors contributed to the accident. The incorrect altimeter setting caused the aircraft to be lower than the pilots believed, increasing the risk of terrain impact. The failure to properly set up and arm the ILS approach meant the crew lacked accurate vertical guidance. The use of vertical speed mode further allowed the aircraft to descend below the glidepath unchecked. In addition, strong winds, turbulence, and mountain wave activity likely made the approach more demanding.
Human factors were critical. The pilot had known difficulties with flight management systems and adherence to procedures, and the crew failed to conduct proper briefings, cross-checks, and monitoring. Most importantly, the decision to continue an unstable approach, combined with the failure to initiate a go-around when prompted, ultimately led to the controlled flight into terrain.