The Flight
The twin-engine airplane was operating a cargo flight from Helsinki to Joensuu, with intermediate stops in Mikkeli, Varkaus, and Savonlinna. The cargo consisted of 578 kilograms of newspapers. After departing Savonlinna Airport at 1213 local time, the flight was scheduled to arrive at Joensuu at 1235.
Descent and Approach
The pilot received the latest weather information for Joensuu Airport and began a descent while operating under visual flight rules (VFR). As the aircraft approached runway 10, smoke emerged from the airplane, which apparently caught fire. Subsequently, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent.
Crash and Recovery
The aircraft crashed approximately 2 kilometers short of the runway and burst into flames. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed. His body was recovered from Pohjalampi Lake, located a few hundred meters from the main wreckage. The investigation revealed that the pilot fell from the airplane during the final approach.