What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Gax 179, DA-20 a Falcon was given missed approach directions by the stl tower when, during an ILS 30R approach the weather dropped below visual separation minimums. During vectors for a second approach to ILS 30R at stl, the crew requested info about the length of vector to be expected and asked for a closer turn in for approach. The crew did not declare "minimum fuel" or "emergency" until the engines flamed out due to lack of fuel. The aircraft crashed into the Mississippi river. Pilots (X2) were rescued from the river. Additional issue, aircraft were reporting moderate ice conditions during vectors for approach in this area. The crew would have been carrying extra power to support anti-ice equipment, creating a higher than expected fuel burn. Forecast at time of departure was 35011KTP6SM OVC015...requiring an alternate to be filed on IFR flight plan...the pilot did not file an alternate.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) GAX 179, DA-20 A FALCON WAS GIVEN MISSED APPROACH DIRECTIONS BY THE STL TOWER WHEN, DURING AN ILS 30R APPROACH THE WEATHER DROPPED BELOW VISUAL SEPARATION MINIMUMS. DURING VECTORS FOR A SECOND APPROACH TO ILS 30R AT STL, THE CREW REQUESTED INFO ABOUT THE LENGTH OF VECTOR TO BE EXPECTED AND ASKED FOR A CLOSER TURN IN FOR APPROACH. THE CREW DID NOT DECLARE "MINIMUM FUEL" OR "EMERGENCY" UNTIL THE ENGINES FLAMED OUT DUE TO LACK OF FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. PILOTS (X2) WERE RESCUED FROM THE RIVER. ADDITIONAL ISSUE, AIRCRAFT WERE REPORTING MODERATE ICE CONDITIONS DURING VECTORS FOR APPROACH IN THIS AREA. THE CREW WOULD HAVE BEEN CARRYING EXTRA POWER TO SUPPORT ANTI-ICE EQUIPMENT, CREATING A HIGHER THAN EXPECTED FUEL BURN. FORECAST AT TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 35011KTP6SM OVC015...REQUIRING AN ALTERNATE TO BE FILED ON IFR FLIGHT PLAN...THE PILOT DID NOT FILE AN ALTERNATE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.