What happened
On November 23, 2021, a Diamond DA 42 NG, registration LN-PFM, crashed in a wooded area near Larvik, Norway. The flight was being conducted by Pilot Flight Academy as part of a multi-engine piston training program. The crew consisted of an instructor and a student, with a second student seated in the rear.
The aircraft was performing airwork maneuvers at approximately 3,600 feet above ground level. During the session, the pilot was practicing slow-speed flight with the landing gear and flaps extended. During these landing configuration maneuvers, the aircraft lost control and entered a spin, descending into the hilly terrain. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and a subsequent intense fire. All three occupants died instantly.
The investigation
Investigators from the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the wreckage and analyzed various data sources, including radar and ADS-B datasets from Avinor and Flightradar24. Because the intense post-crash fire consumed much of the wreckage, the investigators were unable to retrieve electronic data from the aircraft's internal recorders.
The investigation also reviewed the flight school's training procedures and the student's recent training history. The student had recently completed simulator training for this aircraft type and was performing his first actual flight in a twin-engine aircraft in Norway. Meteorological data indicated that weather conditions were suitable for flight at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled spin while operating in a low-speed, landing configuration.
- No mechanical failures were identified in the aircraft that could explain the loss of control, though technical malfunctions could not be entirely ruled out.
- The Diamond DA 42 NG is not approved for spin training, and recovering from a spin in multi-engine aircraft can be particularly difficult.
- The student was performing his first flight in a multi-engine aircraft type.