Accident involving the aircraft SE-MES, of the type GippsAero GA8 Airvan, close to Umeå airport on 14 July 2019

The plane was going to drop parachutists when it crashed close to Umeå airport. All nine persons onboard were killed in the accident.

The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) has launched an investigation of the accident. Fact finding and analysis will be ongoing for a considerable length of time. SHK is cooperating in this investigation with the Swedish Transport Agency (the national regulator), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the manufacturer Mahindra Aerospace.

See SHK:s film about the parachut accident in Umeå (external link, Vimeo) External link.

15 July 2019
SHK initiated an on site investigation on Monday 15 July. Coordination meetings were also held with representatives of the Police and the emergency rescue services.

16 July 2019
Work on site continued on the Tuesday and plans were made for the transportation of wreckage parts away from the accident site to SHK's hangar facilities in Strängnäs for continued investigation. Interviews were conducted with witnesses and other relevant persons. A special information meeting was held for families and other next of kin.

19 July 2019
Preliminary information has shown that the aircraft descended from an altitude of 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) vertically with a high speed of descent. The right wing, the vertical stabilizer and both horizontal stabilizers all separated from the aircraft in the air and were found on the accident site separately from each other and from the main wreckage.

23 July 2019

SHK has left the accident site and the wreckage parts have been brought to SHK's hangar facilities in Strängnäs. Further investigation activities will include e.g. the following. The different wreckage parts will be examined closely with respect to possible cracks, corrosion etc. Material analyses will be carried out to try to clarify if there have been any manufactural deficiencies, material fatigue or other phenomena that could contribute to explaining why parts of the aircraft separated in the air. The engine, collected fuel samples and recordings of sound from the engine will all be analysed. Possible data from different memory units will be examined and video recordnings of the accident by private individuals will be further analysed. Investigators will also go over interviews carried out with witnesses and other relevant persons and reinterview if needed. Weight and balance calculations will be carried out and documents concerning the aircraft and the parachuting activities will be examined. The same goes for radar information and communication with air traffic control.

26 July 2019
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has lifted its temporary suspension of operations with the aircraft type involved in the accident in Umeå. CASA has stated that as such the aircraft type can be safely allowed to return to normal operations.SHK has no role in the making of these kinds of decisions. SHK continues its investigation to try and clarify what caused the accident to this particular airplane. Questions about the decision taken by CASA should be directed to CASA.

Contact person for the media regarding SHK´s investigation: Head of Department Peter Swaffer