What happened
On November 29, 1999, a Saab 340A, registration OH-FAE, operated by Golden Air Flyg Ab, experienced a serious near-miss during its approach to runway 24 at Lappeenranta Airport. The flight, carrying three crew members and 23 passengers, was performing a VOR/DME approach.
During the descent, the aircraft descended below the required 980-foot altitude limitation. As the aircraft descended through approximately 1,000 feet, the pilot regained visual contact with the ground but simultaneously entered a cloud layer. Upon exiting the cloud, the pilot spotted white flashing lights directly ahead. To avoid a collision with a chimney, the pilot immediately disconnected the autopilot and executed an evasive maneuver, banking the aircraft approximately 25 degrees to the left. The aircraft' and nose pitch changed significantly, experiencing a load factor of approximately 1.5 G. The maneuver brought the aircraft as low as 736 feet, while the top of the chimney was at 723 feet. Following the avoidance maneuver, the crew was able to sight the runway approach lights and landed safely at 08:06 local time.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path reconstruction, cockpit voice recorder data, and witness accounts. Investigators analyzed the approach profile, the crew's training records, and the accuracy of the aeronautical charts used during the flight. The investigation also reviewed the company's operational manuals and the effectiveness of Crew Resource Management (CRM) training for the crew members involved.