What happened
During 2016, the Dutch Safety Board recorded 33 serious incidents and accidents, the vast majority of which involved general aviation aircraft. Among these, the most frequent types of occurrences were loss of control, emergency landings following engine failures, and hard landings. Specifically, loss of control was reported seven times, often during various flight phases such as takeoff, climbing, or approach. Engine failures led to four emergency landings, while hard landings resulted in four instances of aircraft damage.
Recent individual incidents include a Boeing 747-8F, registration VQ-BLR, which struck runway threshold lighting during landing at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. In February 2017, a Bombardier DHC8-402-Q, registration G-JECP, experienced a landing gear collapse on runway 22 at Schiphol, causing significant damage to the fuselage and propeller. Additionally, a Schleicher ASK-21 glider, registration PH-1290, struck a bush during a low-altitude approach at a glider airfield, causing wing damage.
The investigation
The Board examined various operational factors contributing to these trends. In the case of the Boeing 767-36N, registration G-POWD, investigators looked into an emergency descent triggered by a loss of cabin pressure 35 NM southwest of Schiphol. For a Cessna 172R, registration PH-STW, the investigation focused on a runway incursion risk at Lelystad Airport, where the pilot approached the wrong runway despite receiving updated landing information.
Findings
Investigations into loss of control incidents identified several contributing factors, including flying under VFR in IMC conditions, limited experience with specific aircraft types, and improper steering during go-arounds in heavy winds. Regarding engine failures, investigators noted that some emergency landings were exacerbated by landing with a tailwind or incorrect fuel mixture settings. In the case of the PH-STW incident, the pilot failed to update his operational assumptions despite correctly reading back the new runway information, highlighting a breakdown in situational awareness.
Safety action
While the report focuses on trends, it emphasizes the necessity of careful listening to airport operations and the importance of clearly communicating runway directions in the traffic pattern to prevent collisions.