Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator near Seljord: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-52196
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Refuelling
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
913
Location:
Seljord
Vestfold og Telemark
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather and icing conditions. While all engines and both wings were contaminated by ice, the aircraft was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude and hit the slope of Mt Skorve located in the region of Seljord. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Seljord: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ADQV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Frankfurt – Berlin – Hamburg – Copenhagen – Oslo
MSN:
640608
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
LH007
Location:
Seljord
Vestfold og Telemark
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Aircraft flight hours:
1293
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft christened 'Herman Stache' left Copenhagen Airport at 1750LT bound for Oslo. After passing Skagen, the aircraft entered over Skagerrak and the weather conditions deteriorated. Due to poor visibility and wind from the east, the aircraft diverted from the prescribed flight path to the west. Persuaded to be on the correct track for Oslo, the crew reduced his altitude and went through the cloud layer to start the descent to Fornebu Airport. At an altitude of 1,355 meters, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Skorvefjell located northwest of Seljord. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 15 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Johannes Schröter,
August Lukat,
Wilhelm Jenss.
Passengers:
Curt Braun,
Armin Priest,
Hans Haas,
Herman Daduna,
Walter Hodt,
Erwin Keller,
Edwin Krause,
Alexander Rockel,
Georg Rosenbush,
Gerard Schmidt,
Kjell Andreas Martinsen,
Milli Holthe.
Probable cause:
It was concluded that the accident resulted from a controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was off the prescribed flight path, most probably due a wind from the east gusting up to 15 km/h. Also, the radio equipment failed in flight, which should be considered as a contributory factor.
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