Kato Airline Flight 603

Kato Airline Flight 603 is a Dornier-228 airliner flight, operated by Kato Airline, from Røst-Stolport Airport to Bodø Airport. On approach to Bodø Airport, the plane encountered a lightning strike, causing a fracture to the control rod that operated the elevator. The aircraft subsequently landed heavily just short of the runway at Bodø Airport.
Aircraft
The aircraft was a Dornier 228-202 and was built in 1987. It was registered as LN-HTA. The aircraft was previously owned by Helitrans to transport oil-company workers between Vaernes and Brönnöysund before being sold off to Kato Airline. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated 11069 flight hours.
Passengers and crew
The Flight crew consisted of 49 year old Captain Ingar Lyngmo and 35 year old First Officer Kristian Markus Andresen. Captain was had 6400 total flying hours and 700 flying hours on the Dornier 228. The First Officer had 1450 total flying hours and 260 flying hours on the Dornier 228. There were two passengers onboard, both male, aged 31 and 42 years old respectively. There were no flight attendants onboard. The First Officer was in command of the flight.
Ten months after the incident, the First Officer Kristian Markus Andresen would be involved in another incident with Kato Airline on Flight 605, where an Algerian who had sought asylum in Norway and was turned down, hijacked the plane and attacked the flight crew with an axe, seriously injuring the First Officer and a different Captain, and attempted to crash the plane in a suicide attempt. Both pilots, as well as two other passengers, had to fight off the hijacker and the pilots managed to regain control of the plane and bring the passengers and plane safy onto the ground.
Accident
On 4 December 2003, at 8:25 a.m., the plane departed from Røst-Stolport Airport. On approach to Bodø Aiport, there was a heavy buildup of strong lightning activity in that area and the flight was warned that a plane had been struck by lightning. At 08:44, the plane was struck by lightning. Both pilots were temporarily blinded for around 30 seconds, and lost control because the elevator was not working. They finally landed the plane on their third attempt. The point of impact was 22 metres short, but the aircraft slid onto the runway, where it stopped. All onboard survived. The 42 year old passenger and the First Officer was seriously injured while the Captain and the 31 year old passenger sustained only minor injuries. The aircraft was written off.
Investigation
The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) was tasked with investigating the accident. They discovered that when the plane was struck by lightning, the wiring to the elevator was burned. Also, a rod end came loose, so the pilots lost all control of the elevator. The final report was released on 29 June 2007.
Awards
The Flight crew have been awarded with the Polaris Award, the highest decoration associated with civil aviation and awarded by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA), for their recognition for acts of exceptional airmanship in the flight.

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