What happened
On September 4, 2022, a Cessna 172N, registration OY-CSP, was conducting a private VFR flight from Endelave (EKEL) to Porsholt Aerodrome. The pilot, an experienced aviator with 30 years of flying history primarily involving this aircraft type and this specific airfield, reported no technical issues during the flight. Prior to arrival, the pilot received weather information from Esbj and noted a steady easterly wind of approximately 12 knots with good visibility.
As the pilot prepared to land on runway 15, the aircraft encountered turbulence and wind gusts. Immediately after passing a 12-meter-high treeline located near the runway threshold, the pilot began the flare maneuver approximately 2 meters above the runway surface. At this critical moment, a strong wind gust lifted the left wing and forced the aircraft toward the right edge of the runway.
Despite attempts to correct the deviation, the pilot experienced ineffective aileron response due to the low airspeed. The aircraft drifted further right, causing the left wing leading edge to strike a patch of small trees. This impact triggered a ground loop to the left, during which the nose and right wing leading edge also struck vegetation. The aircraft came to rest approximately 25 meters to the right of the runway centerline.
The investigation
The Danish Accident Investigation Board (Havarikommissionen) conducted an initial safety investigation. The inquiry examined the flight path, meteorological data from Esbjerg (EKEB), and the airfield layout, noting the presence of a treeline near the runway threshold. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft sustained substantial damage and was destroyed following the collision with the trees. No injuries were reported in the accident.