What happened
During a flight operating from Halley to Rothera Station, the aircraft known as 'Polar 4' encountered challenging meteorological conditions, including snowfall and low cloud cover. While executing a steep approach under these marginal weather circumstances, the aircraft experienced a hard landing.
Although the impact resulted in substantial damages to the airframe, there were no injuries reported among the occupants. Following the incident, the aircraft was relocated to Germany for further assessment. In November 2005, it was officially determined that the aircraft was a total loss and was declared beyond repair.
Findings
- The landing was characterized by a high-impact force during the approach phase.
- Adverse weather, specifically low visibility and snow, contributed to the difficulty of the approach.