Crash of a Piper PA-31-425 Pressurized Navajo in Reykjavik

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-AUT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Reykjavik – Sondreströmfjord
MSN:
31-7400183
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Reykjavik Airport, while cruising over Eyjafjallajökull, the pilote declared an emergency following the failure of the left engine. He was cleared to return to Reykjavik and was vectored for an approach to runway 14. On final, he encountered strong winds when the aircraft banked left then stalled and crashed 200 metres short of runway. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured. At the time of the accident, the wind was gusting from 100°-130° up to 35 knots.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Gulfstream GIII in Vágar: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1996 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-330
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Keflavik – Vágar
MSN:
330
YOM:
1981
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vágar Airport runway 12, the crew encountered extreme atmospheric turbulences. Control was lost and the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain located 2 km short of runway. All nine occupants were killed, among them Admiral Hans Jørgen Garde, Chief of the Danish Army, and his wife Anna garde. At the time of the accident, the visibility was good but severe turbulences were present in the approach path.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo B in Karlstad: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1992 at 1142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-BZD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Roskilde - Karlstad
MSN:
31-7401266
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
550
Captain / Total hours on type:
20.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4725
Circumstances:
On approach to Karlstad Airport, the pilot informed ATC he was low on fuel. Shortly later, he declared an emergency when the both engines stopped. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed in the Vänern Lake located 12,5 km from Karlstad Airport. Four passengers and the pilot were killed while three other passengers were rescued.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. This was due to the failure of the pilot to refuel the aircraft before the flight or to make a fuel stop en route. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Both engines stopped due to fuel exhaustion before the aircraft reached the destination,
- The flight was initiated with a too little amount of fuel on board,
- The pilot deviated from the current Danish regulations with regard to the prescribed minimum amount of fuel.
Final Report:

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-81 in Gottröra

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1991 at 0851 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-KHO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stockholm - Copenhagen - Warsaw
MSN:
53003
YOM:
1991
Flight number:
SK751
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
123
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8020
Captain / Total hours on type:
590.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3015
Copilot / Total hours on type:
76
Aircraft flight hours:
1608
Aircraft flight cycles:
1272
Circumstances:
The MD-81 arrived from Zurich at 22:09 and was parked at gate 2 overnight with temperatures of around +1 deg. C. Approx. 2550 kg of fuel remained in each wing tank. The aircraft was scheduled to leave Stockholm for Copenhagen at 08:30 and the temperature had dropped to -0 deg C in the early morning. During the night and in the early morning clear ice had formed on the upper side of the wings, but this was not detected by the ground crew member who checked the forward part of the wing. The aircraft was fuelled with 1400 kg of fuel and was ready for de-icing at 08:30, which was done using 850l of Type I fluid. After de-icing the mechanic didn't check whether there was any clear ice on the upper side of the wings, since he had previously found none. The flight was then cleared to taxi to runway 08 and the aircraft took off at 08:47. After 25 seconds (at 1124 feet height) bangs, vibrations and jerks were perceived in the aircraft. This was caused by a no. 2 engine surge. The engine was throttled down a little, but throttle control simultaneously changed to an automatic mode which increased throttle setting with altitude (Automatic Thrust Restoration - ATR). This in turn increased the intensity of the surging. The no. 1 engine surged 39 seconds later, but this was not noticed by the flight crew. An attempt to switch on the autopilot at 2616 feet failed. At 76 resp. 78 seconds into the flight both the no. 2 and no. 1 engine failed after breakup of the stage 1 stators of both engines (initiated by high loads from the surges). The aircraft was climbing through 3206 feet at that moment with a 196 KIAS. A no. 1 engine fire warning at 91 seconds into the flight made the crew activate the fire extinguishing system. A SAS captain traveling the passenger cabin realized that there were problems and hurried to the cockpit to assist the flight crew. The aircraft was in a gliding left turn at that moment. When descending through 420 m, still in the clouds, the assisting captain gradually extended the flaps. The flaps were fully extended at 1100 feet (340 m) and the plane broke through the clouds at 980-820 feet. A field in the direction of flight was chosen for an emergency landing. The wheels were selected down and Stockholm control was informed about the imminent crash-landing. The MD-81 contacted trees at 121 knots and a major portion of the right wing broke off. The plane then struck sloping ground tail-first and slid along the ground for 110 m. The fuselage was broken into three pieces, but there was no fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by SAS' instructions and routines being inadequate to ensure that clear ice was removed from the wings of the aircraft prior to takeoff. Hence the aircraft took off with clear ice on the wings. In connection with lift-off, the clear ice loosened and was ingested by the engines. The ice caused damage to the engine fan stages, which led to engine surges. The surges destroyed the engines. Contributory causes were: The pilots were not trained to identify and eliminate engine surging; ATR-which was unknown within SAS - was activated and increased the engine power without the pilot's knowledge.
Final Report:

Crash of a Partenavia P.68B Victor in Kalundborg

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1991 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-CEW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kalundborg - Kalundborg
MSN:
30
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft successfully completed three sortie in the morning. With six skydivers on board, the pilot prepared for a fourth mission when, during the takeoff roll, he realized he could not make it. He aborted the takeoff procedure and saw people at the end of the runway so he voluntarily veered off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest with its left wing partially torn off. All six passengers were evacuated safely while the pilot was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Takeoff interruption on part of the pilot due to an insufficient speed. The exact cause of the mishap remains unclear.

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Rønne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-SUM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
402C-0505
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Rønne Airport for unknown reasons. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Copenhagen

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1991 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-BZW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
TC-328
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport runway 22L, the right engine failed. The crew was able to feather the right propeller but the nose gear failed to deploy. Manual recycling was ineffective and the crew continued the approach. The aircraft landed on its nose, rolled for few dozen meters and came to rest on the main runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine caused by the failure of the turbine assembly retention guide vane. This caused a reduction of the hydraulic pressure, preventing the nose gear to be lowered.

Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest in Greenland: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1990 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-CGM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Söndreströmfjord - Goose Bay
MSN:
441-0229
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Sondreströmfjord on a charter flight to Goose Bay, carrying six sailors and two pilots. Seventeen minutes after takeoff, while cruising at FL220, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and the crew did not send any distress call. At an altitude of 7,000 feet, the aircraft disintegrated and debris scattered on a wide area. The wreckage was found about 148 southwest of Sondreströmfjord and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the following findings were reported:
- There was no evidence from the post-mortem examination which suggests a contributory factor in this accident.
- There was no radio transmission from the crew indicating that they were concerned of any problem.
- There was no evidence of fire, engine failure, explosion, structural or mechanical defect prior to the in-flight break-up.
- The evaluation of the ATC tape indicates that an impairment of the crew was present, consistent with, but not confirmatory of hypoxia.