What happened
On 15 March 2005, a Pilatus Britten-for-Norman BN2B-26 Islander, registration G-BOMG, was conducting an air ambulance mission for the Scottish Ambulance Service. The aircraft, operated by Loganair Limited, was flying to collect a paramedic for a flight to Campbeltown Airport on the Kintyre Peninsula.
During the approach to Runway 11, the aircraft was operating under instrument flight rules due to poor weather conditions. After completing a base turn, the aircraft disappeared from radar contact. An extensive search operation was launched, and the wreckage was eventually located on the seabed approximately 7.7 nm west-north-west of Campbeltown Airport. There were two fatalities; the pilot and the paramedic on board did not survive.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's recent flying history, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators found that the aircraft was well-maintained and free of any mechanical defects or pre-impact system failures. The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within legal limits, and the engines were operating at symmetric power levels at the time of impact.
Regarding the flight operations, the pilot had not flown for 32 days prior to the accident, meaning he lacked recent flying practice. The investigation also looked into the cockpit environment, noting the presence of a second crew member and the lack of certain safety equipment, such as radio altimeters or passenger shoulder harnesses.
Findings
- The pilot allowed the aircraft to descend below the minimum altitude required for the approach procedure.
- This uncontrolled descent likely continued until the aircraft struck the sea.
- The pilot's performance may have been degraded by a combination of fatigue, high workload, and a lack of recent flying experience.
- The pilot may have experienced disorientation, distraction, or subtle incapacitation, affecting his ability to maintain the flight path.
- Low cloud base and visibility provided very few environmental cues to alert the pilot to the aircraft's decreasing altitude.
- The aircraft was intact upon impact, with damage consistent with a controlled flight into the sea.