What happened
On June 3, 2018, a Partenavia P68B, registration D-GATA, was performing a private VFR flight from Rendsburg Schachtholm to the Endelave (EKEL) airstrip. Upon arrival, the pilot conducted a visual inspection of the grass runway. During the final approach to runway 29, the pilot executed a low approach at a shallow angle.
As the aircraft entered the flare, it touched down approximately 10 meters short of the runway threshold in a wheat field. The left main landing gear struck an upslope roadside near a perpendicular road crossing, causing the gear to collapse. The aircraft veered uncontrollably to the left, striking a parked aircraft before impacting a tree and a farm building. The collision triggered an explosive fire fueled by on-board fuel. While the pilot was initially unconscious, the three passengers managed to evacuate the wreckage despite being partially trapped by the aircraft's structure. The pilot also escaped, though both the pilot and passengers sustained burns.
The investigation
The AIB Denmark investigation utilized high-quality video recordings from witnesses to reconstruct the landing sequence, as the post-crash fire and the pilot's post-traumatic memory loss limited the availability of certain technical data. The investigation examined the aircraft's technical status, the pilot's experience, and the specific characteristics of the Endelave airstrip.
Investigators analyzed the approach profile and noted that the pilot had experience flying at this location in single-engine aircraft but not in twin-engine models. The investigation also reviewed the airstrip's specific markings, including white crosses on a nearby road intended to warn pilots against landing short, and the presence of high crops near the runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an undershoot landing caused by a low approach at a shallow angle.
- High crops along the approach path likely disturbed the pilot's depth perception, leading to the short touchdown.
- The collision with the roadside embankment caused the collapse of the left main landing gear.
- The aircraft's destruction and the severity of the injuries were mitigated by the rapid response and rescue efforts of local witnesses and the community.
- The pilot's lack of previous experience operating twin-engine aircraft at this specific airstrip may have influenced the decision-making regarding the landing short-field technique.