What happened
On May 17, 2016, a Piper Aircraft Inc. PA-28R-200, registration LN-AAM, crashed in a wooded area near Kjølen, north of Halden. The flight originated from Stavanger Airport Sola, bound for Torsnes airfield near Fredrikstad, operating under instrument flight rules (IFR).
During the descent toward the destination, the aircraft passed Torsnes airfield on an easterly heading. Witnesses near the airfield observed the plane flying in a straight line at a higher speed than typical landing traffic, with no visible attempts to maneuver for an approach. Approximately four minutes after passing the airfield, the aircraft struck the terrain in a forest. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined radar data, witness accounts, and the wreckage. Technical analysis of the Piper Aircraft Inc. PA-28R-200 indicated that the engine was functioning normally and producing significant power at the time of impact. Radar data suggested the autopilot's heading control was likely engaged during the final stages of the flight.
An autopsy of the pilot revealed that the pilot had likely become deceased while still on board the aircraft, several minutes before the actual collision with the trees. The investigation established that the pilot's last conscious action was an adjustment to engine power to level the aircraft at 1,300 feet, roughly nine minutes before the crash.