Report on aviation accident at Notodden Airport Tuven, 15 August 2021 involving Diamond DA40 NG, LN-PFJ
Aviation report 2022/01
The flight school aircraft LN-PFJ crashed in connection with landing on runway 30. There was variable wind both in direction and strength on the airport this afternoon. The accident occured during the flight student's fifth solo flight. The aviation accident involving LN-PFJ is an example of how a landing attempt with too much initial energy and a subsequent missed approach at a low altitude can culminate in a loss of control and an accident. The commander, who was a solo student, found himself in a situation that he did not master. Everything happened very quickly, and he was unable to avoid losing control of the aircraft.
After completing a near four hour solo flight via the airports Eggemoen and Torp, the flight student returned to Notodden airport. During the first landing attempt on runway 30 the aircraft had too high energy, and he decided to perform a go around. During the next landing on the same runway, the aircraft still had too much energy. He tried to initiate a second go around, but did not succeed.
The aircraft hit the runway just before taxiway B, jumped into the air again and skidded in a left turn 70 m, before it finally came to rest 40 m from the runway edge. The aircraft suffered significant damage, mainly to the fuselage, the propeller and the landing gear. The flight student sustained no physical injuries.
Unstable wind conditions and distractions linked to the traffic pattern probably contributed to the solo student (the commander) being unable to establish the aircraft on a stable approach during the last part of the final approach. The NSIA is of the opinion that the commander implemented a missed approach late, and that he lost control of LN-PFJ because he was unable to correct the aircraft’s movements with engine and rudder control. The NSIA considers that the accident indicates that the commander faced greater challenges than he was able to handle.
Published 25.02.2022
Facts
| Location | Notodden Airport, Tuven (ENNO), Notodden municipality in Vestfold and Telemark county, Norway |
| Occurrence date | 15.08.2021 |
| ICAO Location indicator | ENNO |
| Aircraft | Other light aeroplane |
| Operator | Pilot Flight Academy AS - ATO |
| Registration | LN-PFJ |
| Meteorological conditions | VMC |
| County | Vestfold og Telemark |
| Type of occurrence | Accident |
| Type of operation | Training |
| Category of operation | Light, aeroplane (< 5 700kg) |
| Aircraft category | Landplane, Single-engine, Piston engine |
| FIR/AOR | ENOS (Oslo ATCC) |