What happened
During an attempt to land on a level runway located at Gomez Nunatak on Adelaide Island, Antarctica, the pilot encountered difficulties with the terrain. The aircraft, which was navigating the Antarctic landscape, struck a snow-covered slope during the landing sequence. This impact caused the plane to come to a complete stop on the uneven ground.
Despite the severity of the collision, all five people on board were successfully evacuated from the site without any reported fatalities or injuries. The incident resulted in the total loss of the airframe, which was deemed beyond repair and subsequently left at the location. Following the accident, recovery efforts managed to retrieve both engines and the onboard avionics equipment.
Findings
- The crew misidentified a sloped area of snow as a flat, suitable landing surface.