Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Kulusuk

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
F-WSGU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15420/26865
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a delivery flight from Europe to the US, the aircraft crashed on approach to Kulusuk Airport. There were no casualties and the aircraft was abandoned on site.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130D Hercules in Dye 3: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1972 at 0655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0495
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thule - Dye 3
MSN:
3202
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
6258
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a supply mission from Thule Airbase to Dye 3 Airstrip located about 320 km east of Sondreströmfjord, Greenland. On final approach, the airplane lost height and struck the ground. On impact, the landing gear, skis, outboard fuel tanks, and the number one engine were torn off as well as 12 feet from the left wing tip and six feet of the right wing tip. The airplane came to rest in flames in the snow. Seven occupants were slightly injured while the eighth one, a Danish citizen, was killed when a propeller blade detached and penetrated the fuselage.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the approach speed was too low, causing the airplane to stall during the last segment.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Narsarsuaq

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6PC
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LC-94
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Narsarsuaq on a flight from the US, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in a fjord located few km from the airport. Both occupants were rescued few hours later and were injured by negative temperatures. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Narsarsuaq

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1969 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N587JA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
40
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
17500
Captain / Total hours on type:
245.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Narsarsuaq Airport, the twin engine aircraft was too low and crashed few km short of runway. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed. He was supposed to deliver the aircraft to the US.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-100-BW Stratofortress near Thule AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1968 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0188
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Plattsburgh - Plattsburgh
MSN:
464256
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
Hobo 28
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Plattsburgh (NY) on a "Chrome Dome" airborne alert over the Ballistic Missle Early Warning System (BMEWS) at Thule Air Base, Greenland. An in-flight fire caused by a faulty heater knocked out electrical power. The crew ejected over Thule Air Base, except for one who was killed bailing out through a hatch. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed onto the ice sea. High explosive of four thermonuclear bombs detonated on impact, causing widespread contamination, but no nuclear detonation. Operation Crested Ice launched to clean up radioactive ice & snow.
Crew:
Cpt John Haug, pilot,
Cpt Leonard Svitenko, copilot, †
Maj Alfred Joe D'Amario, pilot,
Cpt Richard "Dick" Marx, EWO,
Maj Frank Hopkins, radio navigator,
Cpt Curtis Criss, navigator,
S/Sgt Cal Snapp, air gunner.
Probable cause:
In-flight electrical short-circuit.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680FL in Greenland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1967 at 1021 LT
Registration:
N6362U
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Reykjavik - Kulusuk
MSN:
680-1421-67
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed Reykjavik on a flight to Kulusuk with equipments which should be dropped off. En route, weather conditions worsened and while cruising in whiteout conditions, the crew lost his orientation when the airplane struck the ground and crashed. A pilot was killed while two other occupants were seriously injured.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Danmarkshavn

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1967
Operator:
Registration:
TF-ISA
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12184
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina off Upernavik

Date & Time: May 3, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L-867
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thule – Søndre Strømfjord
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Catalina operated on a trip from Air Station Værløse via Keflavik, Reykjavik, Mestersvig, Station North, Thule, Sonderstrom and back to Værløse. The flyinbg boat departed Værløse, Denmark on 20 April 1964. On 3 May 1964, en route from Thule to Sonderstrom, the airplane suffered an no. 1 engine failure. Due to the Catalina’s single engine performance, the captain decided to make a precautionary landing when they discovered open water about 10 km south west from Upernavik. The crew was later rescued by a USAF SA-16 and brought to Sonderstrom. Two days later the Catalina was damaged beyond repair by the ice which had crushed the it.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Desolation Cape: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1963 at 1636 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L-865
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Narsarsuaq – Søndre Strømfjord
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While cruising in bad weather conditions on a flight from Narsarsuaq to Søndre Strømfjord, the seaplane struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed upon impact. The wreckage was found few hours later in the region of Desolation Cape and all 13 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso off Nuuk: 15 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1962 at 1055 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IHA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sondreströmfjord - Nuuk
MSN:
CV-365
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Captain / Total hours on type:
151.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
650
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Sondreströmfjord, the crew started the descent to Nuuk and the landing was made on a water area that had not been patrolled. This was contrary to current safety rules. Both pilots considered the touchdown was normal. However, after a run of a few seconds the aircraft swerved abruptly to starboard assuming an increasingly nose-down attitude. A steadily progressing but very quick deceleration took place. The seaplane plunged into water and came to rest, partially submerged. While all three crew members and three passengers were rescued, 15 passengers were drowned.
Probable cause:
As a result of the technical investigation, it was considered most probable that, because of a mechanical malfunctioning the nose wheel doors were not closed and locked and that there was an aperture of 70 mm when the landing took place. The gaping doors were torn off when the aircraft having landed at rather high speed sank deeply into the water. The extremely great water pressure in the nose wheel well forced the aft bulkhead of the well inwards resulting in severe damage to the front cabin.
Final Report: