ASN Aircraft accident Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander D-ILFB Ruhnu Airport
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Saturday 3 March 2007
Time:16:36
Type:Silhouette image of generic BN2P model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander
Operator:LFH Luftverkehr Friesland Harle
Registration: D-ILFB
MSN: 2271
First flight: 1994-04-25 (12 years 11 months)
Total airframe hrs:2811
Cycles:27857
Engines: 2 Lycoming O-540-E4C5
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:0,4 km (0.3 mls) NE of Ruhnu Airport (   Estonia)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Pärnu Airport (EPU/EEPU), Estonia
Destination airport:Ruhnu Airport (EERU), Estonia
Narrative:
LFH Luftverkehr Friesland Harle was engaged in scheduled operations between Pärnu and Ruhnu Airport in Estonia, using BN-2 Islander aircraft.
The flight that had been initially planned for 26th February 2007, was postponed several times due to adverse meteorological conditions, causing problems with provision supply on Ruhnu island. On Friday, 3rd March, pilot checked the weather at 15:00 and at 16:00. Based on the received information the pilot decided to depart for Ruhnu at 16:00.
At 16:08, the aircraft took off from Pärnu airport with a pilot, two passengers and 520 kg of cargo on board. According to the weather briefing received by the pilot via telephone from Kuressaare, at 16:00 the cloud height in Kuressaare (EEKE, 36 Nm northwest of Ruhnu) was 600 ft. and 180 m (approximately 540 ft.) in Ruhnu. During the uneventful flight on the altitude 1500 ft., the coast and the ice border were clearly visible. The aircraft stayed clear from the clouds and no signs of icing were noticed by persons on board. Approaching the island from the northeast it was intended by the pilot to use runway 32 for landing. The pilot decided to fly low from east to west across the runway to check the windsock and runway condition. While approaching the island, the pilot descended at the rate of 150 ft/min with low power settings and flaps extended by 1 notch. During descent the horizontal and vertical visibility deteriorated and the flight was continued in IMC. The descent was continued in clouds; therefore the pilot had no visual contact with the ground and horizon. The aircraft broke through the clouds over the coast at a very low altitude (100-120 feet). Trying to maintain safe altitude and speed pilot added power, at the same time stall warning signal activated and seconds later the lower part of aircraft's fuselage touched the treetops and collided with the terrain at 16:36.
The passengers and pilot escaped the aircraft without assistance and with no injuries.

Probable Cause:

Causes of the accident:
The investigation established the following causes of the accident:
1. The pilot could not maintain safe flight altitude when approaching Ruhnu aerodrome.
2. The pilot continued the descent in spite of IMC.
Contributing factors to the accident
The investigation established the following factors contributing to the accident:
1. High motivation to perform the flight.
2. Inadequate weather information from ground services of Ruhnu aerodrome.
3. Inadequate aeronautical oversight in the destination airport.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: MinEcon
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 4 years and 3 months
Accident number: EE030/030307
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Loss of control

Sources:
» Delfi


Follow-up / safety actions

MinEcon issued 2 Safety Recommendations

Show all...

Photos

photo of BN-2B-26-Islander-D-ILFB
accident date: 03-03-2007
type: Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander
registration: D-ILFB
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Pärnu Airport to Ruhnu Airport as the crow flies is 99 km (62 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org