Overview of 2018 Occurrences
The Dutch Safety Board investigated 18 serious incidents and 13 accidents involving civilian aircraft in the Netherlands during 2018. The majority of these investigations remain ongoing. The Board also assisted foreign investigation bodies on 18 occasions concerning occurrences with Dutch involvement. General aviation aircraft were involved in almost all accidents and 12 of the serious incidents. The other six serious incidents involved passenger aircraft, a business jet, and a helicopter; five of these occurred near Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. In the Netherlands, five people were killed and one injured in general aviation accidents. One Dutch national died abroad when a twin-engined aircraft crashed at Münster-Osnabrück airport in Germany.
Airproxes Near Noordkop Glider Centre
Two serious incidents involving airproxes between gliders and motorised aircraft occurred near the new Noordkop glider centre, operational since 22 September 2018. On 5 October 2018, an ASW 24 glider and an RV-12 motorised aircraft were involved. The glider pilot saw the motorised aircraft 30 metres below; the RV-12 pilot saw the glider only at the last moment and was unaware of the glider airfield. On 21 October 2018, a Discus glider and a Cessna 182RG passed with an estimated vertical separation of 40 metres near the airfield; the Cessna pilot did not see the glider. A NOTAM warning of gliding activities had been published on 22 September, and the airfield was added to the AIP on 11 October.
Fatal Crash of Pipistrel Alpha Electro
On 13 October 2018, an electrically powered microlight aeroplane (Pipistrel Alpha Electro) crashed while in the circuit of Stadskanaal airfield. The pilot, the sole occupant, was killed, and the aircraft was completely burned out.
Loss of Propeller and Emergency Landing
On 18 October 2018, a Tipsy Nipper aircraft near Weesp experienced a loss of propeller during flight. The pilot had felt mild vibration and observed rising engine speed. After closing the throttle and reselecting power, no thrust was felt. The pilot performed an emergency landing in a field with no injuries to himself and no further damage to the aircraft.
Fatal Crash at Hilversum Airfield
On 15 December 2018, a Europa Aviation Limited Europa crashed shortly after takeoff from grass runway 13 at Hilversum airfield. The pilot, the only person on board, was killed.
General Aviation Statistics
Of the reported occurrences in general aviation in 2018, 52% occurred during cruise flight, 20% during landing, 12% during take-off, and the remainder during climb and approach. No serious incidents or accidents occurred during engine start-up, taxiing, or descent. The most frequently reported types were airprox/near-miss (10 occurrences), loss of control during flight (6 occurrences), and engine failure followed by emergency landing (3 occurrences). In three emergency landings, no injuries occurred and the aircraft sustained minor damage. Of the ten airproxes, five involved an evasive manoeuvre by a pilot (and once by a parachutist); four of those occurred during cruise flight and one during final approach. Two airproxes occurred near the Noordkop glider centre. Loss of control events involved five motorised aircraft (four single piston engine, one electrically powered) and one paramotor; four of these resulted in a total of five deaths.