What happened
On August 14, 1998, at approximately 12:15 local time, a Cessna 310, registration LY-LMI, operated by the VGTU A. Gustaitis Aviation Institute, experienced an accident during landing at Šilutė Aerodrome. The flight was a training mission originating from Vilnius International Airport, involving a flight instructor and a student pilot.
As the crew approached the asphalt runway, they were operating in conditions with a headwind of approximately 6–8 m/s. During the final approach, the crew attempted to maintain minimum speed to reach the runway threshold. While passing over trees located near the runway end, the aircraft experienced a loss of airspeed, triggering the stall warning at an altitude of roughly 10–15 meters. In an attempt to recover from the sink, the pilots pulled back on the control column. This action increased the angle of attack without sufficient power, resulting in a high vertical-velocity impact with the ground approximately 5–6 meters before the runway threshold. The landing gear struck the safety strip, and the aircraft subsequently bounced, causing the propellers of both engines to strike the asphalt.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters, meteorological conditions, and crew actions. It was noted that while the crew had significant experience, they were flying to an unfamiliar aerodrome for which specific operating instructions were not available in the Vilnius navigation station library. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's technical state, finding no mechanical failures; the engines and propellers had been maintained according to requirements.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was loss of airspeed during the final phase of the approach.
Contributing factors included:
- The crew's decision to approach at minimum speed without adequately accounting for the impact of the wind near obstacles (trees).
- An unjustified decision to fly at minimum speeds given the specific meteorological conditions, specifically the 6–8 m/s headwind.
- The instructor's decision to allow a student pilot to perform the landing at an unfamiliar aerodrome under challenging conditions.
- A pilot error in attempting to recover from the stall by pulling back on the yoke rather than increasing engine power.
- Potential reflexive actions or the application of habits from flying turbine aircraft to this piston-engine aircraft.