1 fatality

2002-06-09: Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) (OO-NAP) — Namur Air Promotion — Namur, Belgium

Namur, BelgiumTakeoff (climb)

On June 9, 2002, a Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) (registration OO-NAP) operated by Namur Air Promotion was involved in an aviation accident near Namur, Belgium during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of control that occurred immediately after takeoff was caused by the pilot’s failure to adjust the elevator trim, which he had left in the fully up position. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781201822Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft on a skydiving flight crashed shortly after takeoff at Namur-Temploux Airfield, resulting in one passenger fatality and multiple injuries.

Accident Overview

A single-engine airplane was conducting a local skydiving flight at Namur-Temploux Airfield, carrying ten skydivers and one pilot. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb, the left wing stalled, and the aircraft crashed near the end of the runway. The crash resulted in the death of one passenger, with ten other occupants sustaining injuries, some of them serious. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the loss of control that occurred immediately after takeoff was caused by the pilot's failure to adjust the elevator trim, which he had left in the fully up position. The pilot most likely left the trim in the fully up position as it had been after the previous landing. The pilot did not have sufficient time to correct the situation before the aircraft stalled at a low altitude. The manufacturer had previously issued notifications to operators regarding the use of the elevator trim system, following several similar accidents attributed to pilot errors in trim positioning for takeoff.