Date & Time:
Aug 28, 1971 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
HA-MOC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oslo – Copenhagen – Berlin – Budapest
MSN:
181 9929 03
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
MA731
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
9
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
23
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
32
Aircraft flight hours:
13150
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Oslo, the crew started the descent to Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport in marginal weather conditions. The crew was cleared to descend to 5,000 feet then 1,500 feet when he was trying to intercept the ILS of runway 22L. On final, the four engine aircraft nosed down and plunged into the Øresund few hundred yards off the Saltholm Island. Rescuers were able to evacuate 3 passengers while 31 other occupants were killed. Three days later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was loss of control of the aircraft at the moment where the aircraft was about to intercept the ILS glideslope to runway 22L at Copenhagen airport, Kastrup.
Although it has not been possible to establish the cause of the loss of control, it is most likely to believe that the aircraft in the landing configuration was affected by a deterioration of the airflow over the tailplane to such a degree that longitudinal stability was lost.
Although it has not been possible to establish the cause of the loss of control, it is most likely to believe that the aircraft in the landing configuration was affected by a deterioration of the airflow over the tailplane to such a degree that longitudinal stability was lost.
