Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster CFIT at Moorsele Aerodrome

Occurrence Overview and Investigation Scope On 25 September 2021, a Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster operated for parachute drops at Moorsele Aerodrome (EBMO) in Belgium impacted terrain short of runway 22. The Belgian Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) conducted a limited-scope, fact-gathering investigation under ICAO Annex 13 and EU Regulation 996/2010, focusing on the actions and conditions directly related to the occurrence. The investigation produced a short summary report and did not necessarily cover all aspects of the operation or underlying safety factors. ## Operational Context and Flight Sequence The pilot began the day’s operations at EBMO after a two-hour delay caused by dense fog, with the first drop around 08:45 UTC. The aircraft repeatedly climbed north of the airfield to pressure altitudes exceeding 13,000 feet, released parachutists, and then descended for a quick landing to pick up the next group. Each drop leg lasted approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The pilot completed 18 drop flights in more than six hours, with refueling and short breaks after every four or five flights. The pilot did not use supplemental oxygen because time above 13,000 feet was brief. ## Approach and Impact During the final approach after the 18th drop, the pilot reported that visibility was severely reduced by the low sun, which was positioned ahead and to the right. The pilot stated that this may have caused brief disorientation and overcompensation by pulling back on the throttle and yoke, after which the aircraft lost altitude abruptly and impacted the ground. The aircraft caught fire after impact, but the fire was quickly extinguished by people on the aerodrome. The pilot shut off the engine, disconnected the fuel supply and battery, and exited the aircraft. ## Damage, Personnel, and Aircraft Information The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose, right main landing gear, propeller, and engine compartment. The pilot, a 54-year-old holder of a CPL(A), Class 1 medical certificate with a vision limitation, Cessna Single Engine Turbine type rating, and Flight Instructor certificate, had approximately 1,448 total flight hours and about 150 hours on type. The aircraft, a 2000-built Cessna 208B with serial number 208B0834 and Belgian registration, had a valid EASA Certificate of Airworthiness and 8,241:48 flight hours as of 24 June 2021. No evidence suggested that the aircraft’s technical condition contributed to the accident. ## Meteorological and Aerodrome Conditions At Lille Airport (LFQQ), the nearest reporting station, the wind was calm below 5 knots and shifted from 200 to 120 degrees by 17:00 UTC. The day began with dense fog that lifted around 07:00 UTC, after which conditions remained CAVOK. At 17:00 UTC, the temperature was 21°C, the dewpoint was 13°C, and the QNH was 1013 hPa. The sun was at an altitude of 4.17 degrees above the horizon with an azimuth of 263.28 degrees at EBMO, and sunset occurred at 17:38:57 UTC. Moorsele Aerodrome is an uncontrolled aerodrome with a 670-meter by 30-meter bidirectional grass runway 04/22 and a taxiway on the southern side. The airfield is primarily used for parachuting and is surrounded by an Air Traffic Zone to avoid conflicts between aircraft and descending parachutists.