Finland Times

File picture of an Ultra-soft aircraft was damaged in an accident. Photo - Str / Lehtikuva.

Human casualties in ultra-soft aircraft accidents in the country increased significantly in recent times.

 

A total of 22 people were killed in separate incidents of light aircraft crashes in the country in the past one and a half years.

 

The last accident took place on Sunday at Jämijärvi Airfield in Satakunta region where eight people were killed and three others escaped narrowly with wounds.

Earlier, in March this year, two people were injured when a light aircraft fell at the Nummela airport. One of the victims succumbed to his wounds after a few days.

 

On September 8, 2013, an ultra-soft aircraft crashed at Haapavesi in Pohjois-Pohjanmaa resulting in the death of the lone pilot.

 

File picture of ultra-soft aircraft in a forest. Photo - Lehtikuva.

The accident took place when a fire broke out at the tube frame and a fabric-clad of the aircraft. The plane was flying very close to the ground and the entire body of the aircraft was completely burnt after the crash.

 

On June 29, 2013, three out of four passengers of a family on board died on the spot as a private seaplane hit a nearby pontoon in Suvasvesi Lake, about 100 metres from Kuopio Vehmersalmi guest port, when it was taking off.

 

The deceased were a 45-year-old man, his 39-year-old wife and their 13-year-old son. An 11-year-old boy survived the accident. 

 

In May 2013, a middle-aged couple was burnt alive when a small ultra-soft aircraft crashed in the space and fell on a lakeside road in Sysmäki area of Päijät-Häme.

 

Locals saw a fire in the sky and then the burning aircraft diving into the ground within a short time.

 

Of the victims, the man was 60 years old and the woman 50 years.

 

On May 8, 2013, one person was killed and another wounded when an ultra-soft aircraft crashed in Pirkanmaa area. The crash took place as the upper engine of the seaplane broke away, forcing the aircraft to nosedive into the water with the pilot trying in vain to make a safe landing. 

 

On May 5, 2013, an ultra-light aircraft crashed at Vitikanpää in Rovaniemi less than two days after another ultra-soft plane had crashed on May 3.  

 

On May 3, 2013, the pilot and the lone passenger of a small ultra-soft aircraft were burnt alive as it exploded in the air and fell onto a lakeside road in Sysmäki area of Päijät-Häme. 

 

In November 2012, a 44-year-old man was killed when an ultra-light plane crashed just after take-off at Kontiolahti in North Karjala.

 

In September 2012, two people died when a light aircraft crashed at Utsjoki in Lapland. Their ultra-light two-seater plane was completely destroyed in the accident.  

 

A 22-year-old flight student died in Loimaa in May 2012 as a two-seater plane fell onto a highway in Alastaro.  

 

In April 2012, two men died at Rääkkylä in North Karjala when their ultra-light plane crashed in an icy lake.  

 

Lack of adequate information in instruction books of ultra-soft aircrafts and a drop in lifting forces at the wings are responsible for frequent crashes of the aircrafts generally operated by the passengers as a part of their hobbies. 

 

This was revealed in an investigation last year conducted by the Accident Investigation Board of the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi).