Report on air accident 8 km west-northwest of Larvik in Vestfold og Telemark County, Norway on 23 November 2021 involving a Diamond DA 42 NG, LN-PFM, operated by Pilot Flight Academy
Aviation report 2023/02
The accident occurred during an instruction flight on a multi-engine piston aircraft. The airplane came out of control while practicing slow-speed flight and crashed in hilly woodland. All three on board were killed instantly.
The airplane took of from Sandefjord airport Torp (ENTO). Approximately 32 minutes into the flight, after conducting several turns in 3,600 ft (AGL) the airplane went out of control and entered a spin.
The airplane was destroyed during impact and an intense fire started. The wreckage was almost completely consumed by the fire or destroyed by the heat, and it was not possible to extract stored electronic data from the wreckage. One witness saw a segment of the accident sequense. The investigation has largely been based on available radar data, intervjues, technical documentation, examination of the wreckage and the accident site. The NSIA has found no technical malfunctions on the airplane that could explain why it came out of control. However, technical malfunctions cannot be excluded.
The NSIA has investigated several possible scenarios, but it has not been possible to establish an unequivocal explanation as to why the airplane came out of control and started to spin.
Based on the investigation, the NSIA give one safety recommendation.
Essential parts of the wreckage laid out on the hangar floor. Photo: NSIA
The accident site seen towards east-southeast. The aircraft hit the top of the hill. Photo: NSIA
Published 15.02.2023
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Aviation No 2023/04T
On Tuesday 23 November 2021, a student and an instructor were practicing slow flight at 3,600 ft above ground level in a Diamond DA 42 NG. The airplane entered a spin and crashed for unknown reasons. Whether it was the student or the instructor who flew the airplane when control was lost remains unknown, but the flight instructor should be the safety barrier. There are no requirements for practical refresher training for instructors in spin prevention and spin recovery.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) consider the requirements for practical training and refresher training of flight instructors, with the emphasis on spin prevention and spin recovery.
Facts
| Location | 16 NM south west of Sandefjord lufthavn Torp (ENTO), close to Larvik city in Vestfold and Telemark county, Norway |
| Occurrence date | 23.11.2021 |
| ICAO Location indicator | ENTO |
| Aircraft | Other light aeroplane |
| Operator | Pilot Flight Academy AS - ATO |
| Registration | LN-PFM |
| 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, Piston engine, Multi-engine |
| FIR/AOR | ENOS (Oslo ATCC) |