What happened
On 17 September 2003, a BAe Jetstream 32 was operating flight EXC403 from Pajala Airport to Luleå/Kallax Airport. The flight was being conducted without passengers. During the flight, the commander decided to use the opportunity to conduct training for the co-pilot, specifically simulating an engine failure. Following a successful takeoff simulation, the crew intended to repeat the procedure during the landing phase.
While at approximately 3500 feet during the approach, the commander reduced thrust on the right engine. The flight data recorder indicated that thrust was gradually decreased from roughly 19% down to approximately 7% by the time the aircraft reached the runway threshold. While the co-pilot believed the landing would be completed with asymmetric thrust, the commander intended to restore normal power before touchdown.
As the aircraft approached the runway at a higher than normal glide angle, the crew utilized rudder and opposite banking to manage the asymmetrical forces. During this period, the co-pilot noted unusual inertia in the ailerons. Shortly after crossing the threshold, at an altitude of about 5 metres, the aircraft experienced a sudden yaw and roll to the right. Despite attempts to recover using full control inputs, the right wingtip struck the ground, followed by the fuselage. The aircraft slid approximately 50 metres along the runway. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries as the crew evacuated immediately.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical failures in oversight and training. The primary contributing factor was deficiencies in the company's quality assurance, operational routines, and regulations. Specifically, the commander acted as a flight instructor for a specific flight situation without the necessary qualifications or authorization. Furthermore, the crew lacked sufficient familiarity with the aircraft's handling characteristics during asymmetric thrust and did not adhere to established training regulations.