Report on air accident on the Ordo mountain, Varanger-peninsula, 10 September 1975 with a German Cessna 150-L, D-EOQD

D-EOQD had flown from Verden, Germany and northwards through Europe. On 10 September the aircraft flew from Ivalo to Kirkens and landed at 1439 hrs with pilot and two passengers. The pilot went up into the tower and showed the ATC-personnel where they planned to fly. Due to the prevailing weather conditions they decided that it was best to follow the coast line to Berlevåg, up the Tana-fjord before following the Tana river to Utsjok and then to Ivalo.

The maps the pilot had over the Varanger-peninsula and intended to use were not sutiable and Kirkenes tower gave the pilot a map of the type that can be found in "Rutebok for Norge". This map has some differences compared to the ICAO map used up until Kirkenes. After filling out the flight plan, changing oil and tanking fuel, D-EOQD took off at 1511 hrs.  

The aircraft reported being over Vardø at 1534 hrs, but at this time it was most likely over Ekkerøy. The aicraft contacted Kirkenes several times and recived the frequency for Berlevåg with instructions to contact them when they got closer. The pilot reported to Kirkenes several times that they were not able to reach Berlevåg. At 1634 hrs D-EOQD contacted Kirkenes and said that they had lost contact with the ground and requested the QDM to Kirkenes. This was the last time anyone was in contact with D-EOQD and the aircraft was found crashed on 12 September.

The investigation has revealed that the pilot in general did not have that much expereince, and especially when it came to navigation flights. Most likely, a navigational error has led to the aircraft ending up near the centre of the Varanger-peninsula where it encountered unfavourable weather conditions with fog and low clouds. In an attempt at instrument flight at low altitude the aircraft ended up impacting terrain and crashing.

Published 03.06.1976