Accident Overview
On August 11, 1999, a Cessna 182Q aircraft crashed on the island of Reinoya, Norway, resulting in fatal injuries to the pilot and passenger and destroying the aircraft. The accident occurred between 1842 and 1851 local time.
Flight History
The pilot and his wife were on a vacation flight in Norway. After an overnight stop, they planned a VFR flight from Tromso to Honnigsvag via the North Cape. The pilot initially delayed the flight after a telephone weather briefing around 1400 CEST. Following a second briefing at 1620, which reported adequate conditions at the destination, he decided to attempt the flight. Departure was at 1731.
Despite improved visibility along the route, low clouds persisted. In intermittent rain and drizzle, visibility dropped to 500 meters, and cloud ceilings along the fjord coast were low.
A knowledgeable eyewitness observed the Cessna passing Hammerfest Airport at about 500 feet AGL and described the weather as "unsuitable for visual flight." Approximately 15 minutes later, the high-wing aircraft, on a momentary heading of 342° and descending, collided with the rocky terrain of Reinoya, a small island northeast of Hammerfest, elevation 107 meters MSL. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Search and Investigation
The aircraft was reported missing and was found the following morning by a search team from a Coast Guard vessel after an extensive overnight search involving ships and helicopters. The Norwegian Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) conducted the investigation. The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) received the final English-language report dated October 2, 2000.
Conclusions
The Norwegian authority attributed the accident to decisions of the pilot in command, influenced by deteriorating weather conditions in conjunction with the terrain of the fjord coast. A contributing factor was identified: the tendency for pilots, since the introduction of GPS devices in general aviation, to be more willing to accept critical weather conditions because the accuracy of this system strengthens confidence in simple navigation to the destination.
Recommendations
The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was recommended to consider advising the German Federal Aviation Office (LBA) to inform German pilots about the risks of VFR flights under critical or poor weather conditions in Norway, given the large number of German private pilots visiting northern Norway in summer. Additionally, the NCAA was recommended to consider publishing flight safety information warning against excessive reliance on GPS navigation during VFR flights in critical or poor weather conditions.