What happened
On a scheduled flight from Alta Airport to Båtsfjord, a twin engine aircraft was conducting a LOC/DME approach to runway 21. The flight was carrying a total of 27 people, consisting of 24 passengers and a crew of three. During the approach, after the aircraft had passed the missed approach point, the pilot-in-command was unable to maintain visual contact with the runway. In response, the captain assumed control of the aircraft to continue the descent.
During this phase, the aircraft became unstable. The crew encountered significant difficulties while attempting to disengage the autopilot system, which led to a loss of altitude during the final segment of the approach. The aircraft struck the ground with high force, causing the right main landing gear to collapse upon impact. Following the touchdown, the plane slid for several dozen meters before veering off the runway to the right. The aircraft eventually came to a stop in a grassy area located 23 meters from the runway edge. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries as all occupants evacuated the plane successfully. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced instability and control issues during the final approach.
- Difficulty disengaging the autopilot prevented the crew from maintaining a stable flight path, leading to a loss of altitude and a hard landing.