SYNOPSIS
At 21:02 hrs on 01 July 1999 the Helvick Lifeboat and the Irish Air Corps Dauphin, DH248, located at Waterford Regional Airport, were launched, in very bad visibility, to assist in locating a boat reported lost off Dungarvan. In the event, Helvick Lifeboat located the casualty and subsequently requested DH248 to provide navigational assistance back to Helvick Pier, as the Lifeboat”s GPS (navigation system) was not functioning correctly.
The DH248 crew were advised that the weather conditions at Waterford Airport were deteriorating. The Aircraft Commander decided to return to base. DH248 carried out two unsuccessful Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches to Runway (RWY) 21 at Waterford Airport. The Aircraft advised Waterford Control Tower that they were then going to carry out a “coastal approach”. During a probable go-around from this approach, DH248 impacted sand dunes adjacent to Tramore Strand. There were no survivors. The aircraft was destroyed. There was severe post-impact fire.
The accident occurred at 00:40hrs local time on 2nd July 1999 which is 23:40hrs UTC on 1st July 1999.
