Sad news arrived yesterday about a tragic Spitfire accident in Norway.

On Saturday, 21 August at 18:45, the preserved Spitfire FR Mk. XVIIIe, serial number SM845, crashed during landing at Tynset airport. Unfortunately, the pilot was killed in the accident.

Shortly after 19.00, the Norwegian police authorities confirmed that one person has died. As of Sunday morning, the identity of the pilot hasn’t been confirmed, but it is understood that the aircraft was in the hands of Swedish aviator Bertil Gerhardt, aged 68. Gerhardt was one of the most experienced display pilots in Sweden, with 31,000 flying hours under his belt.

[Photo: minxlj, via Flickr and Creative Commons license]

SM845 was one of two airworthy Spitfires operated in Scandinavia. The aircraft was visiting Tyneset in preparation for Sunday’s air show at this location, and arrived directly from another display in Stockholm.

Eye witnesses told the Norwegian TV that the aircraft appeared to approach at high speed over the runway. Upon touchdown, it veered to the left rolled off to a wheat field adjoining the runway, where it overturned.

Photos of the crash site have been published at the website of Arbeidets Rett:
http://www.retten.no/lokale_nyheter/article5233780.ece

SM845 was built at Chattis Hill in 1945 and delivered to 39 MU (Maintenance Unit) on May 30, 1945. It was used operationally in India, first with the RAF, then the Indian Air Force.

She was one of eight Spitfires recovered from India by Duxford-based Ormonde and Wensley Haydon-Baillie in 1977. It passed through several owners before being returned to the air by Historic Flying Ltd. in 1998.

SM845 has been sold to the Swedish company Biltema in 2009 and was based in Ängelholm in southern Sweden.

Our thoughts go out to the pilot’s family.

[BilKatyGemma, via Flickr]