What happened
During an approach to Orkney Island, the crew received reports of high winds at Flotta, noting surface winds of 260 degrees at 26 knots. To manage the conditions, the pilot opted for a straight-in approach to runway 35, positioning the aircraft so the crosswind would originate from the left side to maintain visibility of the left main gear.
As the Twin Otter touched down, the pilot engaged reverse thrust on both propellers. During this phase, an audible stall warning was briefly heard. Shortly after the application of reverse thrust, the left wing began to lift. The pilot attempted to correct the imbalance by applying full left rudder and left aileron, while simultaneously reducing reverse thrust on the right engine and increasing power on the left engine. Despite these efforts, the left wing continued to rise.
The right wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to yaw to the right. The plane briefly bounced on its main wheels before cartwheeling through an airport boundary fence. The aircraft eventually came to rest on its left side with both wings separated from the fuselage. There were no injuries among the 12 occupants, though the aircraft was a total loss.
Findings
Investigations determined that the accident resulted from a loss of control following a strong lateral gust that exceeded the maximum crosswind limitations of the aircraft. Additionally, the absence of precise surface wind data at the runway threshold was identified as a contributing factor to the event.