Cessna 172 S Missing Over North Sea After Deviating From Flight Plan

Casualties unknown • Nordsee, nahe Shetland-Inseln, DE

A Cessna 172 S disappeared over the North Sea near the Shetland Islands after the pilot departed from the intended flight path and flew toward international waters.

What happened

On 30 September 2023, a Cessna 172 S departed from Uetersen/Heist, Germany, for a private VFR flight. Although the pilot's intended destination was Bayreuth, Germany, the aircraft took a northwest course immediately after takeoff. After crossing into Danish airspace, the aircraft continued north and eventually entered international airspace, where it was tracked by Norwegian air traffic services.

At approximately 14:38, the aircraft began a descent of roughly 1,000 feet per minute. Following a series of small, erratic course changes, the last radar contact occurred at 16:45:49, approximately 70 NM southeast of the Shetland Islands (UK). The aircraft and the pilot are currently missing.

The investigation

The BFU led the investigation as the state of registry, with participation from authorities in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, and the USA. Investigators analyzed radar tracks from various European air traffic control agencies and transponder data. The investigation noted that the aircraft was not equipped with a Cockpit Voice Recorder or Flight Data Recorder. The aircraft was equipped with a Garmin G1000 avionics suite and a Bendix/King KAP 140 autopilot, but notably lacked any survival equipment for sea operations.

Findings

  • The pilot departed from the filed flight plan by flying a northwest course instead of the intended southeast direction.
  • The aircraft's flight path involved a significant deviation from the planned route, traveling over 500 NM from the departure point.
  • The aircraft entered a descent and erratic maneuvering pattern shortly before disappearing from radar.
  • No communication was established with air traffic services in any of the controlled airspaces traversed during the flight.
  • The lack of survival equipment and the delay in initiating the search in international waters likely rendered the accident non-survivable.

Probable cause

The aircraft deviated significantly from its intended flight plan toward the northwest, followed by a descent and erratic maneuvering, leading to its disappearance over the North Sea.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2023-09-30 Cessna Aircraft Company Cessna 172 S accident near Nordsee, nahe Shetland-Inseln, DE?

A Cessna 172 S disappeared over the North Sea near the Shetland Islands after the pilot departed from the intended flight path and flew toward international waters.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2023-09-30 involved a Cessna Aircraft Company Cessna 172 S, at Nordsee, nahe Shetland-Inseln, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft deviated significantly from its intended flight plan toward the northwest, followed by a descent and erratic maneuvering, leading to its disappearance over the North Sea.

Loading the flight search…