What happened
On the evening of August 21, 2010, a Vickers Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk. XVIII, registration SE-BIN, arrived at Tynset Airport to participate in an upcoming airshow. The aircraft, operated by Biltema Sweden Holding AB, performed a landing on runway 23 that appeared stable initially but was characterized by excessive height and speed as it crossed the runway threshold.
The aircraft did not touch down immediately upon crossing the threshold; instead, it floated for approximately 380 meters before the main wheels made contact with the pavement. During the rollout, the aircraft drifted toward the left edge of the runway. After traveling 580 meters from the threshold, the tailwheel made contact, and the aircraft continued straight into an adjacent barley field. Approximately 95 meters into the field, the aircraft nosed over and flipped onto its back. The pilot sustained fatal injuries when the cockpit canopy was crushed against the ground during the inversion.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the wreckage, analyzed video footage from witnesses, and reviewed the pilot's flight preparations. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy and the pilot held valid certifications. Investigators noted that the pilot had performed only a single, brief reconnaissance flight over the airfield prior to landing and had gathered limited information regarding the specific runway conditions, such as the presence of newly sown grass on the western portion of the strip.
Findings
While the investigation could not establish a single definitive cause, several contributing factors were identified:
- The aircraft approached the threshold at an excessive height and speed.
- An error in the airspeed indicator, which showed approximately 8 knots less than the actual speed, may have contributed to the high-speed approach.
- The engine configuration of the Spitfire inherently limits forward visibility during landing, which may have caused the pilot to lose track of his position on the runway.
- The pilot's lack of detailed prior knowledge regarding the runway layout and the recent maintenance of the grass surfaces may have hindered effective course correction.
- The investigation could not rule out the possibility of temporary pilot incapacitation or reduced vigilance, though no medical evidence supported this theory.
Notably, the aircraft's structural design provided insufficient protection during the inversion, as the canopy's impact with the ground was the primary cause of death.