Baltic F50 at Tampere on Nov 23rd 2012, ILS approach with VOR tuned descended below minimum safe altitude

An Air Baltic Fokker 50, registration YL-BAC performing flight BT-357 from Riga (Latvia) to Tampere (Finland), was on an ILS approach to Tampere's runway 24 with autopilot engaged at about 23:30L (21:30Z). After the aircraft had intercepted the localizer, the autopilot did not capture the glideslope. The crew identified the VOR frequency was still tuned, disengaged the autopilot, tuned the ILS frequency and descended manually following flight director indications, however were about 1.7nm right of the localizer tracking parallel to the localizer, the aircraft descended below Minimum Safe Altitude while not being established on the localizer and without visual reference to the runway. The crew initiated a go-around only at 455 feet AGL reporting an unstable approach after they descended out of cloud unable to establish visual reference with the runway and both left and right hand instruments showed significant deviation from the localizer. The aircraft positioned for a second approach and landed safely.

The Aviation Herald learned about this event on March 27th 2013 however was unable to substantiate the details until Feb 21st 2014.

On March 28th 2013 Finland's AIB had told The Aviation Herald that they were not aware of such an event, an investigation has been opened as result of the inquiry. In subsequent inquiries The Aviation Herald was unable to raise the responsible investigator, who was said to be out of office for a long time.

Metars:

EFTP 232250Z AUTO 20006KT 9999 FEW005 BKN007 OVC009 05/05 Q1020

EFTP 232220Z AUTO 19004KT 160V230 9999 BKN005 BKN007 05/05 Q1020

EFTP 232150Z AUTO 19005KT 9999 BKN005 BKN007 05/05 Q1020

EFTP 232120Z AUTO 19006KT 9999 SCT004 BKN006 05/04 Q1019

EFTP 232050Z AUTO 19005KT 9999 BKN004 BKN006 05/05 Q1019

EFTP 232020Z AUTO 18006KT 9999 BKN004 BKN006 05/04 Q1019

EFTP 231950Z AUTO 19005KT 9999 SCT005 BKN007 05/04 Q1019

EFTP 231920Z AUTO 20006KT 9999 BKN006 BKN008 05/04 Q1019

EFTP 231850Z AUTO 20005KT 9999 SCT006 OVC008 05/04 Q1019

EFTP 231820Z AUTO 20007KT 9999 SCT005 BKN007 BKN009 06/05 Q1019