What happened
On April 21, 2005, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration LN-ABI, was performing a return flight from Notodden to Sunndalsøra. The flight, which included the pilot and his wife, began under favorable weather conditions. However, after passing the Lesja area, the aircraft encountered a region characterized by clouds, snow showers, and significantly reduced visibility.
GPS data indicates that the aircraft began a continuous descent during the final 10 nautical miles of the flight. While navigating through the obscured terrain, the aircraft performed an extremely sharp 180-degree turn. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft struck the frozen surface of Osvatnet lake. The impact was so severe that the two fatalities on board were unsurvivable, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined radar data, GPS logs, and wreckage to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation established that the aircraft moved out of radar coverage near Tronfjellet and continued through areas of low cloud cover and fog. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while he was qualified for VFR operations, he did not have the training required for instrument flight.
Technical analysis of the wreckage found no mechanical failures contributing to the accident. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter was in the "OFF" position, which prevented the automatic transmission of distress signals, though the wreckage was eventually located via mobile phone triangulation.