B2/​2009L Air ac­ci­dent at Jämi­järvi on 27 March, 2009

15.01.2010

An air accident occurred at Jämijärvi on 27 March 2009 at 17:36. A PIK-16c Vasama glider, returning from a training flight, collided with a 20 kV transmission line traversing Syväsalmi Sound during its final approach. It crashed into the lake ice and was destroyed. The pilot of the glider was killed instantly. On 3 April 2009 Accident Investigation Board Finland appointed investigation commission B2/2009L for this incident. Investigator Juhani Hipeli was named Investigator-in-Charge, accompanied by Investigator Jorma Laine serving as member of the commission.

The glider was returning from a training flight to a landing strip that had been cleared on Lake Jämijärvi’s ice. In the early stages of the approach the pilot had already decided to fly a non-standard landing pattern. He used a higher airspeed than normal and flew a much wider base turn, which was also farther away than usual, to the final approach. When he turned onto the final approach above the Syväsalmi Sound he was at an extremely low altitude, below treetop level. As he was approaching the landing site at the low altitude he had to turn to the right in order to fly along the contours of the sound. Subsequently, in the prevailing lighting conditions, he was unable to detect the transmission line that traversed the sound. A collision with the line was inevitable.

Investigation revealed that the pilot was regarded as being meticulous and careful. He was not in the habit of taking risks or following unconventional routines. Neither did his total flying experience nor recent flight experience prepare him well for unconventional procedures. The decision to fly a non-standard landing pattern was taken spontaneously and showed poor judgement. The atypical procedure held his attention to such an extent that he forgot about the existence of the transmission line. Moreover, he was also probably influenced by being in a hurry to get home as well as by his awareness of the forthcoming end to the lake ice operating season. The north end of the ice strip and, accordingly, its final approach were closer to the Syväsalmi Sound than in previous years. This contributed to the pilot’s action.

The cause of the accident was the pilot’s decision to fly a non-standard landing pattern. As a result of this decision he flew the final approach at such a low altitude that he collided with the transmission line that traverses Syväsalmi Sound. In the prevailing lighting conditions it was impossible for him to detect the line early enough.

The investigation commission made one safety recommendation: When it comes to cooperation between Emergency Response Centres and Rescue Co-ordination Centres, Finavia and the Emergency Response Centre Administration are advised to update their mutual measures and instructions related to air accidents. Furthermore, the investigation commission wanted to reiterate that it is up to the pilots themselves to double-check the flight safety aspects of temporary airstrips, obstacles included. There are many risks in deviating from normal procedure or good aviation practices that can easily go unnoticed and become significant safety factors.