Report on aviation accident near Oppdal airfield, Fagerhaug (ENOP) in Trøndelag county, Norway, 1 July 2024 with an Aeroprakt A-22L2, LN-YFX
Aviation report 2026/04
1 July 2024 an Aeroprakt A-22L2 ultralight aircraft crashed approximately 270 meters east of the runway at Oppdal airfield in Norway. The cause of the accident was loss of control during manoeuvering at low altitude. Both occupants died as a result of the accident.
Monday 1 July 2024 LN-YFX, an Aeroprakt A-22L2 ultralight aircraft, took off at 1042 local time from Oppdal airfield, Fagerhaug, in Trøndelag county, Norway. On board were the current owner of the aircraft and the previous owner. The previous owner was the pilot in command and occupied the right seat. He was a relatively experienced pilot with a current pilot licence but was not instructor qualified. The current owner was in the left seat. He was in the process of gaining his pilot licence and had flown multiple training flights with an instructor on LN-YFX. The pilot in command and the owner had flown together several times over the last few months. The plan was most likely to do a training flight where both occupants would pilot the aircraft.
After approximately 30 minutes of flying in the area between the airfield and the town of Oppdal, they returned to the airfield where they conducted a touch and go at runway 25. After the touch and go they climbed straight ahead to approximately 400 ft above ground level (AGL) before they conducted a left teardrop manoeuvre to a touch and go at runway 07. Again, they climbed straight ahead to 400 ft AGL before starting a right-hand turn. The manoeuvre was similar to the previous teardrop manoeuvre, although the turn was tighter and the descend rate higher. Flight data and witness observations indicate that the aircraft stalled during the manoeuvring, and the two onboard were unable to regain control of the aircraft before they impacted the ground.
LN-YFX impacted the ground just off European route E6, approximately 270 m east of threshold runway 25 at Oppdal airfield. The aircraft caught fire shortly after the crash. The pilot in command was killed at impact, while the owner was rescued from the wreckage by people witnessing the accident. He died later in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
The cause of the accident was loss of control at low altitude. The manoeuvre that was conducted at the time of the accident was similar to the teardrop manoeuvre they had just completed to the opposite runway with regard to the altitude and airspeed profile. The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) believes the manoeuvring was intentional and most likely part of practicing a return to the airfield after engine failure on takeoff.
The investigation has not uncovered any technical issues that could have contributed to the accident. The damages caused by the crash and subsequent fire prevented a full examination of the aircraft and engine parts. As a result, even if the NSIA finds it highly unlikely, the possibility of engine problems cannot be excluded as a reason for the manoeuvring that resulted in the pilot losing control of the aircraft.
Published 12.03.2026
Correction
The first paragraph of the summary states that the previous owner was the pilot in command and occupied the left seat, while the current owner was in the right seat. The position of the two occupants was reversed. The correct position of the previous owner/pilot in command was the right seat, while the current owner was in the left seat.
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Aviation no 2026/13T
Monday 1 July 2024 an Aeroprakt A-22 ultralight aircraft crashed near Oppdal airfield in Norway following loss of control while manoeuvring at low altitude. The manoeuvring was most likely part of practicing a return to the airfield after engine failure during takeoff.
The Norwegian Air Sports Federation (NLF) has published a document covering standard training manoeuvres stating that the aero clubs shall for the club’s aircraft determine a minimum altitude for when it is advisable to return to the airfield following engine failure after takeoff. There is no description of how to determine such an altitude, but NLF has explained that this is part of the practical training provided during instructor courses. Members owning their own aircraft and aero clubs without instructors are not privy to this information.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that NLF publish guidelines describing a method for how aero clubs and members in a safe way can determine a realistic minimum altitude for returning to the airfield in case of engine failure after takeoff.
Safety recommendation Aviation no 2026/14T
Monday 1 July 2024 an Aeroprakt A-22 ultralight aircraft crashed near Oppdal airfield in Norway following loss of control while manoeuvring at low altitude. The manoeuvrings was most likely part of practicing a return to the airfield after engine failure during takeoff.
Engine failure after takeoff is challenging in a single engine aircraft, and both planning and training is important to be able to properly handle the situation. However, training for such an event is not without risk, and should be conducted at sufficient altitude to regain control if the aircraft stalls or is subject to another unexpected event. The Norwegian Air Sports Federation (NLF) has in a document covering standard training manoeuvres stated that practicing a return to the airfield following engine failure should only be conducted with an instructor on board. The currency requirements for pilots of ultralight aircraft normally results in pilots only flying with instructors every two years. To be able to succeed with such a manoeuvre in an emergency situation pilots should practice more frequently than every two years.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that NLF publish guidelines describing how pilots of ultralight aircraft may practice emergency procedures and slow flight in a safe manner.
Safety recommendation Aviation no 2026/15T
Monday 1 July 2024 an Aeroprakt A-22 ultralight aircraft crashed near Oppdal airfield in Norway following loss of control while manoeuvring at low altitude. The aircraft was modified with electronic fuel injection in 2017. The modification affected the normal, emergency and maintenance procedures of the aircraft. Except for a checklist covering normal procedures the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) has not found that other procedures or system descriptions have been updated.
Norwegian laws and the Sports Aircraft Handbook published by the Norwegian Air Sports Federation (NLF) require owners of ultralight aircraft to ensure that flight manuals, maintenance procedures and checklists are updated and reflecting the configuration of the aircraft. There is no information on how this should be done, and the NSIA believes that very few owners of ultralight and sports aircraft are familiar with what is an acceptable and sufficient way of doing this. The lack of proper documentation is especially problematic when the aircraft is sold on to a new owner that has not been involved in the modification.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that NLF publish guidance on what is an acceptable way of updating flight manuals, checklists, maintenance procedures, etc. after modifications to ensure that the documentation reflects the configuration of the aircraft.
Facts
| Location | Oppdal airfield, Trøndelag County, Norway |
| Occurrence date | 01.07.2024 |
| ICAO Location indicator | ENOP |
| Aircraft | Microlight aircraft |
| Registration | LN-YFX |
| Meteorological conditions | VMC |
| County | Trøndelag |
| Type of occurrence | Accident |
| Type of operation | Private |
| Category of operation | Microlight aircraft |
| Aircraft category | Landplane, Single-engine, Piston engine |