North Karelia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Helsinki, the pilote initiate the descent to Joensuu Airport. The visibility was poor due to snow falls and on final, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed 7 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control occurred after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while completing an approach in poor visibility. The following findings were reported:
- Limited visibility due to snow falls,
- There was no automatic pilot system,
- A beacon by Joensuu Airport was unserviceable at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Joensuu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1982 at 1234 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Siimes Aviation

Registration:

OH-PNP

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Helsinki – Mikkeli – Varkaus – Savonlinna – Joensuu

MSN:

31-56

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a cargo flight from Helsinki to Joensuu with intermediate stops in Mikkeli, Varkaus and Savonlinna, carrying a load of 578 kilos of newspapers. It departed Savonlinna Airport at 1213LT on the last leg to Joensuu with an ETA at 1235LT. After he received the last weather info for Joensuu Airport, the pilot initiated the descent under VFR mode. On approach to runway 10, smoke came out from the airplane that apparently caught fire. It entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 2 km short of runway, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. His body was recovered from the Pohjalampi Lake, few hundred meters from the main wreckage. Investigations revealed that he fell down from the airplane on final approach.