Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Taipalsaari, Fi, August 15, 2008
On August 15, 2008 at about 10:14 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered OHPDY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taipalsaari. It was an instructional flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2008 · about 10:14 am local time
- Place
- Taipalsaari, Finland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- OHPDY · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 15, 2008 at 1014 UTC, a Piper PA-28R-200, Finland registration OH-PDY, broke up in flight while maneuvering in clouds and subsequently crashed into Lake Saimaa in Taipalsaari, Finland. The airplane was destroyed and the three persons on board, a flight instructor and two student pilots, were killed. Marginal visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight originated at Kuopio Airport (EFKU), Kuopio, Finland, and was to land at Lappeenranta Airport (EFLP), Lappeenranta, Finland. The pilot had received clearance to the Northern Training Area at Lappeenranta TMA. An eye-witness reported that an airplane had crashed into Lake Saimaa. Several persons had seen the airplane coming out of the clouds and crashing into the lake. Approximately 30 seconds to a minute after the airplane crashed, they reported seeing three large pieces descending slowly to the lake. Weather conditions at Kuopio at the time of the accident were 1,500 scattered and light rain showers, 4,500 broken, 5 miles visibility, winds 240 degrees at 12 knots, temperature 63 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 59 degrees F, and altimeter 29.71 inches. This investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Finnish government. Any further information may be obtained from: Accident Investigation Board Finland Sornaisten rantatie 33C FIN-00580 Helsinki Finland This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the AIB of Finland.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Malmi Air Oy
The flight
- Departed from: EFKU Kuopio at 1:09 pm
- Destination: EFLP Lappeenranta
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 1:20 pm from EFKU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.