What happened
On May 11, 2021, a Piper Aircraft, Inc. PA-28-161, registration LN-NAS, was conducting a private flight from Stavanger to Voss Airport Bømoen. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and three passengers. During the arrival, the pilot attempted three separate landing circuits. The first two attempts were aborted because the pilot perceived the aircraft was too high and too fast over the runway threshold.
During the third and final attempt, the aircraft was not in a stabilized approach. The pilot maintained a high airspeed and a steep descent rate, passing the threshold at 200 feet AGL with a speed of 100 knots. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced several times and failed to decelerate sufficiently. With only about 150 to 160 meters of runway remaining, the pilot applied full flaps, but the aircraft continued down the runway at 40 to 50 knots. The PA-28-161 exited the runway end, crossed a gravel road, and struck a fence before sliding into a roadside ditch. The impact caused extensive damage to the landing gear, propeller, wing leading edges, and engine cowling. Two people sustained minor injuries during the event.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined cockpit videos, airport documentation, and terrain data. The investigation focused on the pilot's flight parameters, the adequacy of airport information, and the use of safety procedures. Investigators also conducted test landings at Bømoen using a similar aircraft to verify approach stability and terrain clearance.
Findings
Several contributing factors led to the accident. The pilot was relatively unfamiliar with the challenging local topography and was focused on maintaining distance from nearby hills. This, combined with the pressure of previous aborted landings and the presence of other aircraft in the area, likely created significant stress. This stress, potentially amplified by adrenaline, prevented the pilot from recognizing that the aircraft was not in a stabilized configuration.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot failed to use checklists, as evidenced by the lack of proper approach configuration and the fact that the pilot was not wearing a seatbelt. The airport's operational manual was also found to be insufficient, providing poor-quality maps and lacking critical information regarding terrain and obstacles, which hindered the pilot's situational awareness.
Safety action
The NSIA has issued a safety recommendation (2024/01T) stating that the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority should require airport owners to ensure that essential information for flight planning and execution is easily accessible, standardized in content, and clearly designed to improve pilot situational awareness.