Overview
The Dutch Safety Board's quarterly report for the fourth quarter of 2018 provides an overview of aviation occurrences investigated during the year. In 2018, the Board received reports of thirteen accidents and eighteen serious incidents involving civilian aircraft in the Netherlands. The majority of these investigations are still ongoing. Additionally, the Board assisted foreign investigation bodies on eighteen occasions, involving occurrences with Dutch involvement abroad.
General Aviation Incidents
Almost all accidents and twelve of the eighteen serious incidents occurred in general aviation. The remaining six serious incidents involved passenger aircraft, one business jet, and one helicopter. Five of these six serious incidents took place close to or at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: a runway incursion, a non-stabilised approach, insufficient thrust during take-off, loss of separation between two aircraft during a go-around and a take-off from another runway, and minimum separation exceeded in the ILS area of runway 22. The sixth involved a passenger aircraft returning to Schiphol after several hours when cabin crew and passengers felt unwell.
Fatalities
In the Netherlands, five people were killed and one was injured as a result of an accident involving an aircraft, all in general aviation. One Dutch national died in an accident abroad when a twin-engined aircraft crashed at Münster-Osnabrück airport in Germany.
Types of Occurrences
In general aviation, three types of incidents were most frequently reported in 2018: airproxes/near-misses (10 occurrences), loss of control during flight (6 occurrences), and engine failure followed by emergency landing (3 occurrences).
Engine Failure
Three emergency landings were reported after engine failure, resulting in no injuries and minor aircraft damage.
Airprox/Near-Miss
Ten airproxes were reported, in five of which a pilot (and in one case a parachutist) took evasive action. Four evasive maneuvers occurred during cruise flight, one during final approach. Two airproxes occurred near the new Noordkop glider airfield, involving a motorised aircraft and a glider. Other occurrences involved motorised aircraft, a drone, a helicopter, and a parachutist.
Loss of Control
Six loss-of-control incidents were reported: three shortly after take-off, two during flight, and one in the circuit area. Five motorised aircraft (four single piston engine, one electrically powered) and one paramotor were involved. Four of these occurrences resulted in five deaths.
Notable Occurrences
Airprox between ASW 24 and RV-12 near Noordkop, 5 October 2018
The ASW 24 glider had taken off from Noordkop glider airfield. The pilot saw a motorised RV-12 approximately 30 metres below. The RV-12 pilot saw the glider at the last moment and was unaware of the glider airfield.
Airprox between Discus and Cessna 182RG near Noordkop, 21 October 2018
A Discus glider and a Cessna 182RG passed with an estimated vertical separation of 40 metres near the glider airfield. The Cessna pilot did not observe the glider.
Crash of Pipistrel Alpha Electro near Onstwedde, 13 October 2018
An electrically powered microlight aeroplane crashed in the circuit of Stadskanaal airfield. The sole pilot was killed, and the aircraft was completely burned out.
Loss of Propeller on Tipsy Nipper, Weesp, 18 October 2018
During flight, the pilot felt mild vibration and observed a rise in engine speed. After closing and reselecting throttle, no thrust was felt, and the propeller was missing. The pilot performed an emergency landing without injury and no further damage.
Crash of Europa at Hilversum Airfield, 15 December 2018
Shortly after take-off from runway 13, the aircraft crashed. The sole pilot was killed.