Something many people don’t know: There was once a tragic plane crash in Finland. I stumbled upon the crash site rather accidentally.
Something many people don’t know: There was once a tragic plane crash in Finland. I stumbled upon the crash site rather accidentally. To get through the week at the summer house, I took care of the necessary shopping in Kvevlax / Koivulahti and then thought,
“It’s not late yet. What should I do now? Sauna, crack open a beer and just relax, or should I check the internet to see if there’s an unknown and interesting place around here?”
I quickly came across the crash site of Aero Flight 311.
A Tragic Place #
What happened here is considered Finland’s deadliest plane crash, where all passengers, crew, and the pilots lost their lives. If you research online, you can quickly find some details about the incident. It is reported that the pilots consumed a large amount of alcohol the night before. Additionally, one of the passengers was said to be in the cockpit during the crash – apparently, someone who had participated in the pilots’ drinking session.
Some Details About the Crash #
It is particularly tragic because it was a very short flight. The plane took off from Kokkola at 07:16, and the co-pilot requested a free-flight zone from air traffic control, which was granted. This allowed the plane to fly above the minimum altitude of 460 m. However, the pilots ignored this rule and flew below 100 meters during the last 40 kilometers. After the last radio contact, the plane began descending below 50 meters when it suddenly veered sharply to the left. A stall is believed to have caused the crash, and the plane struck a forest at a steep angle of 70 degrees at 07:40:30, not far from the destination airport in Vaasa.
The impact and resulting fire completely destroyed the aircraft, with flames reportedly reaching over 15 meters, making any approach or rescue impossible. The subsequent investigations found no technical faults with the aircraft, and pilot error was suspected as the cause. It was especially tragic that the pilots were apparently heavily intoxicated when they undertook the flight.
Pause for a Moment #
To reach the crash site, you need to take a short hike of about 1 km. The route is easily manageable for those who are fit to walk. You pass through a residential street, forest paths, and a narrow trail off to the side of a meadow. Even though there isn’t always a clear path, someone seems to regularly mark the route. Red ribbons and small signs point the way. Particularly wet or swampy areas are covered with boards, allowing you to reach the memorial with relatively dry feet.
How to Reach the Memorial #
There is even an official small parking area located here:
Address:
Storängen
66530
Finland
GPS Coordinates: 63.146517233815615, 21.84135168652736
From there, simply follow the first sign and then continue following the red markings. Along the way, you will also find small signposts in the shape of a white airplane.
Starting Point #
Route to the Memorial on the Map #
The Memorial of Aero Flight 311 #
The memorial is relatively simple. There is a marble plaque along with a metal sign. In front, there is a candle. You can also see some gardening tools, suggesting that someone occasionally takes care of the place. Before the metal sign was installed, there was a simpler wooden version, which was leaning against a tree, ready to be collected, during my visit. Perhaps it has always been there, but I didn’t look closely.
The marble plaque reads in Swedish “OFFEREN FĂ–R FLYGOLYCKAN 3-1 1961,” which translates to: “To the Victims of the Air Crash on January 3, 1961.”
And why Swedish? East of Vaasa and almost everywhere around the area, except in Vähäkyrö, the majority of the population consists of Finland-Swedes. You can see it in the predominantly Swedish-language signs, and even the recycling machine in the supermarket is in Swedish.
There isn’t much more to say. The place exudes a certain tranquility, and the evening visit with the short hike was quite pleasant. It’s certainly not a major tourist attraction, but for me, it was still interesting, as it offered another glimpse into “real Finland and its history.”
Photos of the Site #
In Conclusion: #
If you have trouble with the “Elk Fly” (deer ked, in Finnish “Hirvikärpänen”), it’s best to cover up well and spray yourself with a generous amount of TEHO. Besides the hundreds of mosquitoes buzzing around the forest, this unpleasant creature is also there in droves.