What happened
On July 16, 2023, at approximately 13:59, an Extra EA300/S aircraft, registration OH-ESS, crashed during an aerobatic display at the Selänpää airfield. The flight was part of an aviation day organized by the Kouvola Region Aviation Association. After performing a paired demonstration with another aircraft, the pilot began a solo routine.
During the solo performance, the pilot executed a descending spiral (known as a 'flat spin' or 'latakierre'). The pilot failed to recover the aircraft in time, causing it to plunge into a wooded area near the intersection of runways 04/22 and 12/30. The aircraft struck trees and impacted the ground, resulting in the fatal death of the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The Finnish Safety Investigation Authority (OTKES) examined the sequence of events, the pilot's credentials, and the regulatory environment surrounding the event. The investigation focused on the aircraft's flight path, the technical condition of the Extra EA300/S, and the adequacy of the safety planning for the public event. Investigators also reviewed the process by which the pilot's aerobatic display authorization (PDA) was granted by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom).
Findings
- The pilot violated the minimum altitude requirements specified in the aerobatic display authorization.
- The pilot initiated the fatal descending spiral at an altitude that was too low to allow for a safe recovery.
- The pilot lacked the necessary skill and proficiency to safely manage the intended aerobatic program at the required altitudes.
- The pilot's aerobatic display authorization had been upgraded directly from the Intermediate to the Unlimited category only one month prior to the accident, and the regulatory process failed to identify the pilot's insufficient skill level.
- The event was classified as an airshow, yet no formal permit for such an event had been obtained.
- There were deficiencies in the coordination between authorities regarding the necessity of contacting various regulatory bodies for event safety planning.