Region
Europe

Crash of a Consolidated PBY Catalina in Reykjavik

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
AH557
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Reykjavik
Capital Region (Höfuðborgarsvæði)
Country:
Iceland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The floatplane was damaged upon landing off Skerjafjördur in Reykjavik. To prevent the aircraft from sinking, the pilot stranded the aircraft at the beach. It was subsequently written off. There were no injuries among the crew.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-5 on Mt Snæfugl: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.111
Operator:
Registration:
F8+GM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
3900
Location:
Mt Snæfugl
Eastern Region (Austurland)
Country:
Iceland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a reconnaissance mission, the crew lost his bearings and became disoriented. Cruising in foggy conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Snæfugl. All four crew members were killed. The wreckage was found 11 days later by a local farmer.
Crew:
Oblt Hans Joachim Dürfeld, pilot,
Ogefr Franz Beruer, observer,
Uffz Josef Lutz, radio operator,
Fw Friedrich Harnisch, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I at Kaldaðarnes AFB

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
T9456
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kaldaðarnes - Kaldaðarnes
MSN:
414-2509
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kaldaðarnes AFB
Southern Region (Suðurland)
Country:
Iceland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew made a wheels up landing at Kaldaðarnes AFB due to technical issues with the gear extension system. All four crew members evacuated safely and the airplane was written off due to extensive damage sustained during the belly landing.
Crew:
F/O Sgt Myatt +3.
Probable cause:
Belly landing due to technical issues with the gear extension system.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I on Mt Fagradalsfjall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1941 at 0545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
N9023
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Reykjavik - Reykjavik
Location:
Mt Fagradalsfjall
Southern Peninsula (Suðurnes)
Country:
Iceland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following an escort duty mission over the Atlantic Ocean, the floatplane was returning to its base in Reykjavik. The crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and low ceiling. In limited visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Fagradalsfjall located about 30 km southwest of Reykjavik Airport and was destroyed upon impact. Three crew members were killed and 10 others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Herbert William Taylor, air gunner, †
Sgt Wilfred Cook, wireless operator, †
AC1 Alfred James Thomas Copping, †
P/O B. J. Prescott,
F/Lt J. D. P. Hughes,
P/O J. Dewar,
Sgt L. G. James,
Sgt A. P. Cosworth,
Sgt D. W. Helm,
Cpl W. J. Doddington,
AC1 T. C. Jennings,
AC1 J. Jellfe,
Cpl G. E. L. Jones.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain in poor weather conditions.
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