Loganair Flight 6780

Loganair Flight 6780

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 / 59.88222; -1.08528
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
Injuries	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.