What happened
On the afternoon of the incident, a flight departed from Marelibo aerodrome in Denmark, destined for Cuers. The pilot was operating under an IFR flight plan, which was subsequently cancelled near the St Tropez VOR at 17:15. After passing over the Cuers installations at an altitude of 1,500 feet, the pilot initiated an aerodrome circuit via the north side for runway 11.
During the approach, the pilot observed snow showers but determined that the conditions allowed for a continued descent. As the aircraft descended to approximately 600 feet, it entered a snow shower. At an altitude of roughly 400 feet, the pilot reported that horizontal visibility had dropped to zero, causing a total loss of external visual references.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure; however, there was no perceived increase in engine power during this maneuver. At approximately 200 feet, the pilot realized the aircraft was positioned to the right of the runway and opted for an emergency landing. The aircraft type impacted the ground on the right side of the runway, sliding for 150 meters and rotating before coming to a halt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, though all three occupants managed to exit the wreckage with only minor injuries.
Findings
- The pilot encountered zero horizontal visibility due to entering a snow shower.
- A lack of engine power during the attempted go-around prevented the aircraft from climbing away from the terrain.