Crash of a De Havilland Dash-7-102 in Brønnøysund: 36 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1988 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LN-WFN
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Trondheim – Namsos – Brønnøysund – Sandnessjøen – Bodø
MSN:
28
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
WF710
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Captain / Total flying hours:
19886
Captain / Total hours on type:
2849.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6458
Copilot / Total hours on type:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
16934
Aircraft flight cycles:
32347
Circumstances:
Widerøe flight 710 took off from Trondheim (TRD), Norway, at 19:23 local time on a domestic light to Namsos (OSY), Brønnøysund (BNN), Sandnessjøen (SSJ) and Bodø Airport (BOO).
The flight to Namsos was uneventful. The aircraft took off from Namsos at 20:07 and contacted Trondheim ACC six minutes later, stating that they were climbing from FL70 to FL90. At 20:20 the crew began their descent for Brønnøysund and switched frequencies to Brønnøysund AFIS. Weather reported at Brønnøysund was: wind 220°/05 kts, visibility 9 km, 3/8 stratus at 600 feet and 6/8 at 1000 feet, temperature +6 C, QNH 1022 MB. The crew executed a VOR/DME approach to Brønnøysund's runway 04, followed by a circle for landing on runway 22. The crew left the prescribed altitude 4 NM early. The aircraft descended until it flew into the Torghatten hillside at 560 feet. A retired police officer reported in July 2013 that a passenger had taken a mobile phone on board. The police officer disembarked the plane at Namsos, a stop-over and reported that the passenger with the mobile phone was seated in the cockpits jump-seat. After the accident, he reported this fact to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC). After reading the investigation report during the 25th anniversary of the accident, he noticed that there was no mention of the mobile phone.
NMT 450 network-based mobiles at the time were fitted with a 15-watt transmitter and a powerful battery which could lead to disruption in electronic equipment. The Norwegian AIB conducted an investigation to determine if electronic interference from the mobile phone might have affected the flight instruments. The AIB concluded that there was no evidence to support the theory that there was any kind of interference.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was that the last part of the approach was started about 4 NM too soon. The aircraft therefore flew below the safe terrain clearance altitude and crashed into rising terrain. The Board cannot indicate any certain reason why the approach started so early.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Skien: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1987 at 1736 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-KCR
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Munich - Hanover - Skien - Oslo
MSN:
LJ-793
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
1858
Captain / Total hours on type:
331.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3617
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Hanover, the pilot started the approach to Skien-Geiteryggen Airport in marginal weather conditions. After crossing the last cloud layer, the twin engine was approaching runway 01 when, at an altitude of 100 feet, the aircraft banked right to an angle of 60° then nosed down and crashed few km from the runway threshold, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Due to the total destruction of the aircraft by impact forces and fire, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that icing conditions encountered from 3,000 to 5,000 feet may have affected the aircraft stability and controllability and thus, may be considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-41 in Trondheim

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SE-DAT
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bodø - Trondheim
MSN:
47625
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
SK355
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
103
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
DC-9 "Gissur Viking" was approaching Trondheim runway 27 with the co-pilot at the controls. Descending through 2500 feet the ATC controller asked the crew to contact SAS Station in Trondheim over company frequency. The captain was working through the checklist but contacted SAS, contrary to company regulations (it's not allowed use company frequency while on final approach). The captain then forgot to arm the spoilers because he had not completed the checklist. He co-pilot noticed that the spoilers had not been armed and, while descending through 100 feet, called "Spoilers". The pilot instinctively extended the spoilers and, realizing his mistake, immediately retracted them. The aircraft entered a high sink rate and touched down heavily. A go-around was executed and after landing severe structural damage was found to the undercarriage, engines (30° respectively 15° tilted down), and tail cone (the APU was pushed halfway up the tail). All 107 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew. Lack of crew coordination and approach checklist not completed were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest II in Alta

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-MAH
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
441-0002
YOM:
1977
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest II in Skien: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1985 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-VIP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oslo - Skien
MSN:
441-0279
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6969
Captain / Total hours on type:
232.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1145
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Oslo-Fornebu Airport on a 20 minutes flight to Skien where the aircraft should be inspected by customs before the pilot would continue to Finland where 9 passengers should be embarked for a on-demand taxi flight. Following an uneventful flight at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the pilot started the descent in good weather conditions, passed 4,000 feet and then was cleared for an approach to runway 19. On short final, at a distance of 700 meters from the runway threshold, the twin engine aircraft initiated a right turn then continued via heading 325° when it lost altitude and crashed in the Meierelva River. The wreckage was found partially submerged on the shore of the river, about 1,500 meters northwest of runway 19 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were good and the aircraft was correctly configured for a VFR approach, gear and flaps down. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Båtsfjord

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-MAF
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
441
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Gamvik: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1982 at 1327 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LN-BNK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kirkenes – Vadsø – Vardø – Båtsfjord – Berlevåg – Mehamn – Honningsvåg – Alta
MSN:
568
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
WF933
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
8474
Captain / Total hours on type:
5011.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1830
Copilot / Total hours on type:
918
Aircraft flight hours:
9925
Aircraft flight cycles:
20953
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Kirkenes on a regular schedule service (flight WF933) to Alta with intermediate stops in Vadsø, Vardø, Båtsfjord, Berlevåg, Mehamn and Honningsvåg. The aircraft departed Berlevåg Airport at 1319LT and the crew reported to Mehamn Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) at 1322 that he was at an altitude of 2,000 feet over the Tanafjord with an ETA in Mehamn at 1333LT. Mehamn AFIS called flight 933 at 1335 but did not receive any answer. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Mehamn, SAR operations were initiated. The wreckage was located two days later in the Tanafjord mouth, at a depth of 40 meters, about 6 km southeast of Gamvik. All 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control in-flight after the vertical stabilizer failed due to the combination of altitude turbulences, strong winds, unfavorable atmospheric currents and inappropriate reaction on part of the flying crew.

The accident occurred during a NATO military exercise, within a self-declared no-fly zone for allied military aircraft. A report in 1987 that radar had observed an unidentified aircraft which was on a collision course with the Twin Otter caused a second investigation to be started. It was concluded that the existence of other aircraft in the area could be ruled out; and that no other airborne objects could have caused the accident. The debate about the accident resurfaced in 1997 when several sources claimed there was new or overlooked evidence of the involvement of NATO aircraft. The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) decided in 1997 to investigate the new claims and concluded that there was no evidence to support these claims. The accident was ordered investigated again in November 2002 after a retired Norwegian air traffic controller said one of the Harrier pilots, involved in a mission about the time of the accident, had requested an immediate landing because of technical problems. The report was published on 20 September 2005. It fully supported the findings of all three previous reports and found no evidence for an impact with a Harrier or any other aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev TU-16 on Hopen Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
65
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on Hopen Island, Svalbard archipelago, while completing a patrol flight over the Barents Sea. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Partenavia P.68B on Mt Falkefjellet: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-MAD
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
78
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While descending to Vadsø Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to bad weather conditions. Too low, the twin engine airplane crashed on the slope of Mt Falkefjellet located 19 km north of the airport. The passenger was seriously injured while both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Malmøya Island

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-PAA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
31-538
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Oslo-Fornebu Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed into the sea off Malmøya Island, about 7 km southeast of the airport. Both occupants were rescued while the airplane sank by a depth of six meters.