What happened
A cargo operation departing from Helsinki was conducting its descent toward Joensuu Airport when the accident occurred. During the final approach phase, the aircraft encountered low visibility caused by active snowfall. While maneuvering for landing, the pilot lost control of the plane, resulting in a crash approximately 7 km from the destination airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot, who was the only person on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the loss of control:
- The pilot experienced spatial disorientation while attempting the approach in heavy snow.
- Visibility was significantly reduced by ongoing snowfall.
- The aircraft was not equipped with an autopilot system.
- A navigational beacon at Joensuu Airport was non-functional at the time of the flight.