What happened
On the morning of December 9, 1999, an aircraft was scheduled to fly from Sundsvall/Härnösand airport to Gothenburg/Landvetter. The flight was part of a business trip involving the pilot and seven passengers. Following a period of heavy snowfall and poor visibility, the pilot prepared the aircraft for departure. During the takeoff roll on runway 16, the aircraft was operating in conditions characterized by heavy snow and gusty winds.
Shortly after becoming airborne, witnesses near the airport noted a change in engine RPM and observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude. Approximately two minutes after takeoff, air traffic controllers noticed that the radar echo for SE-GDN was deviating from its cleared flight path and turning toward the north. When the tower controller contacted the pilot to inquire about potential difficulties, the pilot reported a compass malfunction and requested directional guidance. The controller warned the pilot that the aircraft was climbing toward terrain, but no further radio communication was established.
An emergency locator transmitter signal was detected at 12:04, triggering a search and rescue operation. A rescue helicopter located the wreckage in a forest on the southern slope of Mount Kvickberget roughly sixteen minutes after the initial alarm. The wreckage was found in difficult terrain, requiring rescue teams to proceed on foot due to unplowed roads and steep ravines.
Findings
All eight occupants of the aircraft were killed in the impact. The investigation noted that while the aircraft appeared clear of ice when parked, a thin layer of snow had accumulated on the surfaces during taxiing. The pilot's last communication indicated a malfunction with the compass while attempting to navigate through heavy snowfall and low visibility.