What happened
On August 15, 2021, a solo student pilot conducting a navigation flight returned to Notodden Airport in a Diamond DA40 NG, registration LN-PFJ. During the first landing attempt on runway 30, the pilot experienced a significant float due to a tailwind component, leading to a decided missed approach.
During the second approach, the pilot encountered highly variable wind conditions. The approach became unstable, characterized by an excessive sink rate and high airspeed. As the aircraft neared the runway, the pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full throttle. This sudden power application, combined with the aircraft's low speed, caused the nose to pitch and the aircraft to veer sharply to the left. The aircraft's left wing struck the runway asphalt before the plane skidded off the paved surface and came to rest in the grass. While the pilot escaped without physical injury, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the engine, propeller, fuselage, and landing gear.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined flight data from the aircraft's Garmin G1000 instrumentation and airport video footage. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making regarding runway selection, the impact of variable wind conditions, and the stability of the final approach. Investigators also reviewed the student's training progress at Pilot Flight Academy and the communication challenges caused by poor radio quality between the aircraft and a nearby glider.