Crassh of a Beechcraft D18S in Reykjavik

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-REE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
A-226
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the airplane belly landed at Reykjavik Airport and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot, sole on board, escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 690 into the Atlantic Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
D-INIX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Reykjavik - Narsarsuaq
MSN:
690-11013
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Atlantic Ocean while on a flight from Reykjavik to Narsarsuaq. No trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was ever found.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 300 on Mt Knúkur: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1970 at 1056 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-FIL
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Reykjavik – Vágar
MSN:
10356
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
FI701
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
5419
Aircraft flight cycles:
3390
Circumstances:
Flights from Reykjavik to Vágar were cancelled on 23 and 24 September. On 25 September, while approaching the Faroe Islands, weather was poor and the crew diverted to Bergen Airport, Norway. In the morning of 26 September, it appears that weather conditions improved slightly at Vágar Airport. On approach, the crew encountered clouds and limited visibility so the pilot was unable to locate the fjord mouth. Following a holding circuit of 25 minutes over the MY NDB, the crew initiated a descent. A minute later, while at an altitude of 1,55 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Knukur located few km from the airfield. A crew members and seven passengers were killed while 26 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was that FI 701 began a descent through cloud procedure from a starting point other than over "MY" NDB. During this procedure the aircraft hit close to the highest point of Myggenaes at an altitude of about 1500 ft. The reason for starting the procedure from a position other than "MY", has probably been an interference caused by FI 701's weather radar, which on the ADF's has given the crew an erroneous indication that they were passing "MY" NDB.

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-47B-35-DK in Vestmannaeyjar: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1967 at 1806 LT
Operator:
Registration:
TF-AIO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Reykjavik - Vestmannaeyjar
MSN:
16668/33416
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Reykjavik City Airport at 1726LT on a cargo flight to Vestmannaeyjar with a crew of three and various goods on board. While approaching the Vestmann Islands, weather deteriorated and the pilot was unable to locate the runway. He took the decision to make a go-around and to follow a holding pattern around the island. Few minutes later, while approaching from the north, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kervikurkjall located less than 4 km north of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. It is believed the accident was caused by a loss of control due to sudden downdrafts.
Crew:
Egill Benediktsson,
Ásgeir Einarsson,
Finnur Th. Finnsson.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor off Neskaupstađur: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-AIS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Reykjavik - Neskaupstađur
MSN:
AF-731
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an ambulance flight from Reykjavik to Neskaupstađur. While approaching Neskaupstađur by night and in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. The aircraft was lost and both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster in Düsseldorf: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1957 at 0703 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-ALAF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Düsseldorf – Reykjavik – New York
MSN:
7459
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The flight was to be from Dusseldorf, Germany, to New York via Reykjavik. One crew was to pilot the first leg of the trip to Reykjavik and the relief crew was to complete the flight to New York. Of the ten aboard the aircraft, seven were crew and three were passengers. Take-off from Dusseldorf at 0700 hours was normal until the aircraft became airborne. Immediately after becoming airborne and following retraction of the gear No. 1 engine was cut off and its propeller feathered. Then the No. 2 engine was also cut off and its propeller feathered. During this process the flaps were immediately and fully retracted. The aircraft, having attained an altitude of 50 metres, dropped sharply, lost altitude and crashed (0703 hours) into buildings within the city limits killing six of the occupants instantly and seriously injuring the other four. In addition, one person on the ground was killed and two others seriously injured. The wreckage was completely destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the intentional creation of an emergency situation on take-off for a long distance flight: first No. 1 engine was cut off and its propeller feathered, then No. 2 engine was also stopped and its propeller feathered. In addition, the flaps were immediately and fully retracted at low altitude. Such action by the pilot-in-command during take-off immediately after the aircraft became airborne, with a view to testing a crew member, caused the aircraft to crash. The piloting technique was not consistent with the safety requirements and operating instructions as prescribed by the Directorate of Civil Aviation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK off Hafnarfjörður: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
TF-ISG
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vestmannaeyjar – Reykjavik
MSN:
12482
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Reykjavik Airport in poor weather conditions. While descending to an altitude of 500 feet, the captain informed ATC he was unable to locate the runway and did not establish a visual contact with the approach lights. In such conditions, he decided to make a go around and followed a circuit over the area at an altitude of 2,000 feet, awaiting for weather improvement. Few minutes later, ATC informed the crew that the visibility was better and that he would be able to make a second attempt to land. While approaching the coast, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the ocean about 16 km off the village of Hafnarfjörður, south of Reykjavik. SAR operations were immediately conducted but the first debris were found on water a day later only. None of the 20 occupants survived the accident.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was not determined with certainty.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-20-DO Skymaster in Vatnajökull

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-RVC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Luxembourg – Reykjavik – New York
MSN:
27240
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the four engine aircraft christened 'Geysir' hit the northwest slope of the Vatnajökull glacier, in the southeast part of Iceland. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but due to poor weather conditions, the wreckage was spotted four days later only . As the crash site was difficult to reach, the first rescuers arrived on site two days later, on September 20. The aircraft was destroyed but all six crew members survived because the cargo turned out to contain expensive furs and Swiss chocolate. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Luxembourg to New York with an intermediate stop in Reykjavik.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson in Hellisheiði: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-RVL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Vestmannaeyjar – Reykjavik
MSN:
4185
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Skalafell located near Hellisheiði. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.