Incident Overview
On August 11, 1999, between 18:42 and 18:51 local time, a Cessna C182Q with registration D-EPEE crashed into terrain at Reinøya, Finnmark, Norway. The aircraft was destroyed by fire following the impact, resulting in the fatalities of both occupants on board.
Flight History and Weather Conditions
The pilot-in-command and a passenger were conducting a recreational tour in Norway. After a night stopover in Tromsø (ENTC), they planned to fly to Honningsvåg (ENHV) via North Cape. Despite forecasts indicating low cloud ceilings, fog patches, and poor visibility along the route, the pilot decided to proceed after consulting with meteorological officials. The forecaster had advised postponing the flight due to a frontal zone with rain and drizzle extending over Finnmark, but the pilot initiated the flight at 17:31.
Navigation and Final Communications
The aircraft filed a VFR flight plan via Hasvik (ENHK) and Hammerfest (ENHF). En route, the crew maintained contact with air traffic control. At 18:29, while in contact with ENHF, the pilot reported being at 500 feet altitude and intending to continue north toward Honningsvåg. A witness near ENHF observed the aircraft crossing the centerline and continuing north at an altitude of 300–400 feet, following the coastline in poor visibility.
Investigation Findings
The last communication with D-EPEE occurred at 18:39 when instructed to switch to Honningsvåg frequency. Subsequent attempts to establish contact failed. The wreckage was located the following morning by a Coastguard helicopter. Both occupants were found fatally injured. Although the aircraft was equipped with a Garmin 150 GPS and a handheld unit, fire damage and corrosion prevented the retrieval of meaningful navigation data. The pilot held a Private Pilot Licence without an IFR rating.