Global InformationLoganair Flight 6780 information
 G-LGNO, the aircraft involved in the incident | |
| Incident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 December 2014 |
| Summary | Lightning strike, subsequent pilot error leading to near dive into ocean |
| Site | Sumburgh, Shetland Islands 59°52′56″N 001°05′07″W / 59.88222°N 1.08528°W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Saab 2000 |
| Aircraft name | Spirit of Aberdeen |
| Operator | Loganair |
| Registration | G-LGNO |
| Flight origin | Aberdeen Airport |
| Destination | Sumburgh Airport |
| Occupants | 33 |
| Passengers | 30 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 33 |
Loganair Flight 6780 was a scheduled domestic flight from Aberdeen Airport to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. On 15 December 2014, the Saab 2000 operating the flight was struck by lightning during the approach, and then plunged faster than the aircraft's maximum operating speed. The aircraft came within 1,100 feet (340 m) of the North Sea before the pilots recovered and returned to Aberdeen. All 33 passengers and crew were unharmed.[1]
Recorded data showed that the autopilot remained engaged after the lightning strike, contrary to what the pilots had believed, and the nose-up pitch inputs to the flight controls made by the pilots were countered by the autopilot's pitch trim function, which made nose-down inputs to regain the selected altitude of 2,000 feet (610 m).
In response to the accident, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) issued five safety recommendations regarding changes to the autopilot system.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Serious incident Saab 2000 G-LGNO, 15 Dec 2014". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 25 May 2021.