What happened
Shortly after departing from Reykjavik Airport, the aircraft experienced a failure of its left engine while cruising over the Eyjafjallajökull region. Following this mechanical issue, the pilot declared an emergency and received clearance to return to the airport. Air traffic control provided vectors for an approach toward runway 14.
During the final approach phase, the aircraft encountered significant wind conditions, with gusts measured between 100° and 130° at speeds reaching 35 knots. These environmental factors caused the aircraft to bank to the left, resulting in a stall. The aircraft subsequently crashed approximately 200 metres before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair, though the pilot escaped uninjured.
Findings
- The primary contributing factor was the aircraft stalling due to strong wind gusts during the final approach.
- The sequence of events was initiated by a failure of the left engine during the cruise phase of flight.