Flight Background
On Wednesday, December 8, 1999, at 08:32 hours, the pilot took off from Gothenburg/Landvetter airport with seven passengers for an IFR flight to Sundsvall/Härnösand airport via Östersund/Frösön F4 airport. The flight proceeded via reporting point MEGEN and landed at Östersund at 10:45 hours. After a short ground stop to deplane one passenger, they took off 13 minutes later to continue to Sundsvall. The aircraft landed at Sundsvall at 11:33 hours and was parked overnight on spot 25 on Apron S. The pilot placed covers on the wings and stabilizer and connected electricity for heating. The group had lunch, a business meeting, and dinner. The pilot did not consume alcoholic beverages observed by others.
The following morning, it was snowing. The group was picked up around 08:00 hours, visited a factory, had coffee, and continued the business meeting. The pilot ordered weather information by fax. Due to weather, the pilot decided not to return via Östersund. The passenger who deplaned earlier had to reach Sundsvall by other means.
Pre-Flight Preparations
The business meeting concluded at 10:30 hours. A taxi was late, arriving at the airport around 11:15. The passengers remained in the flight planning room while the pilot ordered fueling and prepared the aircraft. Fueling personnel were busy, and the AVGAS 100LL tanker truck was drained and prepared. The pilot requested "full wings," and 396 liters of fuel were uploaded into the aircraft's four fuel tanks. The wings were free from ice and snow.
The pilot contacted the tower at 11:41.38 for taxi clearance to the flight planning office. At 11:49.24, he requested engine start clearance and reported receiving weather information. After taxi instructions, he held at position "Charlie" for a departing SAS aircraft. The tower controller noted a thin layer of snow on the aircraft after taxiing. The SAS commander reported poor visibility, heavy snowfall, and gusty winds, with visibility estimated at 600-700 meters.
Departure and Communication
After the SAS aircraft departed, the pilot received clearance to taxi to runway 16 and ATC clearance to Gothenburg/Landvetter via MEGEN at flight level 120 with transponder code 6377. The controller requested a report when at the takeoff position as the aircraft was not visible in snowfall. At 12:00.18, the pilot reported lining up. The controller gave wind 120 degrees at 17 knots, cleared for takeoff with a right turn, and instructed to contact Sundsvall Control on 135.02 MHz. The pilot read back and took off.
The tower controller briefly saw the aircraft pass abeam the tower, then it disappeared in snowfall. A witness on Alnön island, about 5 km south, heard the takeoff, then a decrease in engine rpm and characteristic sounds of unsynchronized engines, which became normal. Other witnesses along the flight path heard the aircraft and a few saw it briefly through heavy snowfall. Several felt it was flying low with normal engine sounds. One witness observed the landing gear retracted. Near Kvickberget, several witnesses heard a sharp increase in engine rpm, then silence.
Incident
Approximately two minutes after takeoff, the tower controller observed that the radar echo from aircraft SE-GDN was not following the cleared route but turned north. He inquired with Sundsvall Control, which had not been contacted by the aircraft. The tower controller then asked the pilot if he was experiencing problems. The pilot responded that he did have problems and, when asked about intentions, answered "Climbing" twice and then said, "I have a problem with the eeee … uuumm .. with the compass at, at this moment, so could you, could you give me a … di, direction at this moment." The tower controller replied, "Ja, you are climbing towards the north-west now, turn left about 90 degrees and climb as soon as possible, you meeting terrain." No further radio contact was achieved with the aircraft.
Rescue operations began at 12:04.27.