Accident Sequence
On Sunday, 16 July 2023, at 13:59, an aerobatic display aircraft, an Extra EA300/S with registration OH-ESS, crashed into a forest near the intersection of runways 04/22 and 12/30 at Selänpää airfield. The aircraft was performing a solo aerobatic routine that included a flat spin. At the end of the flat spin, the pilot did not have sufficient time to recover the aircraft. The aircraft struck tree branches and then the ground, sustaining damage beyond repair. The pilot was fatally injured.
Event Context
The accident occurred during an annual aviation day event organized by Kouvolan Seudun Ilmailuyhdistys ry. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot had performed a formation routine with another pilot flying a similar aircraft. After that, the pilot began the solo routine that led to the accident. Following the crash, spectators crossed the active runway in an attempt to assist the pilot. Another aerobatic aircraft was preparing for takeoff on the runway at that time. The event was subsequently canceled by the organizer.
Emergency Response
The first emergency call was placed at 13:59. The emergency center dispatched resources under the code "air traffic accident, medium scale." Units included four firefighting vehicles, two tanker trucks, a duty firemaster, a duty fire chief, a field command unit for emergency medical services, two ambulance units, an emergency physician, and a helicopter-based medical unit. Police and social crisis services were also dispatched. Upon arrival, emergency and rescue personnel determined that the pilot had died and no life-saving measures could be undertaken. Rescue crews performed necessary actions.
Probable Cause
The pilot did not have time to recover the aircraft sufficiently early at the end of the flat spin.