Sondreströmfjord (Kangerlussuaq)

Few minutes after takeoff from Reykjavik Airport, while cruising over Eyjafjallajökull, the pilote declared an emergency following the failure of the left engine. He was cleared to return to Reykjavik and was vectored for an approach to runway 14. On final, he encountered strong winds when the aircraft banked left then stalled and crashed 200 metres short of runway. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured. At the time of the accident, the wind was gusting from 100°-130° up to 35 knots.

The twin engine aircraft departed Sondreströmfjord on a charter flight to Goose Bay, carrying six sailors and two pilots. Seventeen minutes after takeoff, while cruising at FL220, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and the crew did not send any distress call. At an altitude of 7,000 feet, the aircraft disintegrated and debris scattered on a wide area. The wreckage was found about 148 southwest of Sondreströmfjord and all eight occupants were killed.

The Fokker F-27, registration YN-BZF, was engaged on a delivery flight from North Yemen to Nicaragua. For the purpose of extended range two 200 US gal auxiliary ferry fuel tanks had been installed in the cabin of the aircraft. YN-BZF departed on 11 April 1985 from North Yemen (Sanaa) via Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), Egypt (Cairo) to Greece (Athens). The flight proceeded from Greece on 19 April 1985 via Italy (Genoa) to Scotland (Prestwick). On 20 April 1985 the flight proceeded from Prestwick via Stornoway to Reykjavik (Iceland) where it arrived at 15:48 hours. Since the crew had been unable to retrieve fuel from the auxiliary ferry fuel system during the preceding part of the flight, they checked the system during the stay at Reykjavik, and they found it to be in working order. An additional check was done by experienced Icelandic F-27 engineers. In the opinion of the ground engineers the auxiliary fuel system "was not very professionally looking" and they "got the feeling that the crew was not quite certain of how to operate it". They advised the crew on how to operate the fuel system and do a ground run to see if it worked. After having received weather information and ATC clearance, the crew took off at 17:21 hours, heading for Kangerlussuaq-Søndre Strømfjord Airport. At 18:32 the Pilot-in-Command transmitted a message to Iceland radio, whom he asked to extend his thanks to the Icelandic engineers with the message that the auxiliary ferry fuel system was working correctly. This message was transmitted prior to passage of Kulusuk at 19:35 hours. During the flight from Reykjavík, Iceland to Greenland the crew informed the air traffic control that problems had arisen with retrieving fuel from the auxiliary ferry fuel system. At 19:50, approximately 50 NM west of Kulusuk, the crew radioed to the radar station BIG GUN about fuel problems, as it had been discovered that the auxiliary ferry fuel system did not function after all. Thus encountering a reduction of fuel reserves by approximately 400 US gal together with a ground speed of only 180 knots the crew decided to return for landing at Kulusuk Airport. However, due to deteriorating weather conditions the aerodrome could not be located. The flight diverted hereafter westbound for an emergency landing at a radar station, "SOB STORY", on the icecap. During descent the aircraft collided with the icecap.

The crew was completing a ferry flight from Washington DC to Liverpool, UK, with intermediate stops in Sondreströmfjord and Reykjavik. On the leg between Greenland and Iceland, the crew encountered icing conditions and declared an emergency after the right engine failed. He was vectored to Kulusuk Airport which is a VFR Airfield located on the southeast coast of Greenland, near the city of Angmagssalik (Tasiilaq) and open to traffic by day only. An hour later, the crew started the descent but due to a limited visibility caused by night and clouds, he was unable to locate the runway and initiated a go-around. About 45 minutes later, while descending to an altitude of 1,700 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Angmagssalik. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.

The ill-fated aircraft that crashed was a Douglas C-133A Cargomaster s/n 56-2014 from Military Air Transport Service’s 1st Air Transport Squadron, based at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. It arrived at Goose Bay 01:55 hours local time. After a 15-hour crew rest, they proceeded to depart enroute to Thule Air Base, Greenland with a stop enroute at Sondrestrom Air Base, also in Greenland. They were loaded with meat and other provisions. The first departure attempt was delayed due to a technical issue. The aircraft sat for a period of time without being de-iced before making a second try. At between 120 and 150 feet, the aircraft’s starboard (right) wing suddenly dropped 20 to 30 degrees. The aircraft commander managed to momentarily regain a level attitude. The aircraft then rolled to the left. The port wing dropped even more quickly and was almost vertical. The aircraft commander was unable to do anything. At 16:49 hrs local time, the Cargomaster struck the ground in a left wing down, nose high attitude.
Crew:
1st Lieutenant Guy L. Vassalotti, pilot,
Cpt Charles L. Jenkins, copilot,
Maj Frank X. Hearty, copilot,
1st Lt Douglas H. Brookfield, navigator,
T/Sgt John. A. Kitchens, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Norman H. Baron, flight engineer,
A1c Shelton Toler, loadmaster.

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.

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.

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.