Tromsø

The flight was uneventful until the start of the event, which occurred during the approach briefing in level flight at FL 330. The event started at 00:19:20 hrs during darkness without moonlight, clouds or turbulence. The lack of external visual references meant that the pilots were totally dependent on their instruments which, inter alia consisted of three independent attitude indicators. According to recorded data and simulations a very fast increase in pitch was displayed on the left attitude indicator. The pilot in command, who was the pilot flying and seated in the left seat exclaimed a strong expression. The displayed pitch change meant that the pilot in command was subjected to a surprise effect and a degradation of spatial orientation The autopilot was, most probably, disconnected automatically, a “cavalry charge” aural warning and a single chime was heard, the latter most likely as a result of miscompare between the left and right pilots’ flying displays (PFD). Both elevators moved towards nose down and nose down stabilizer trim was gradually activated from the left control wheel trim switch. The airplane started to descend, the angle of attack and G-loads became negative. Both pilots exclaimed strong expressions and the co-pilot said “come up”. About 13 seconds after the start of the event the crew were presented with two contradictory attitude indicators with red chevrons pointing in opposite directions. At the same time none of the instruments displayed any comparator caution due to the PFDs declutter function in unusual attitude. Bank angle warnings were heard and the maximum operating speed and Mach number were exceeded 17 seconds after the start of the event, which activated the overspeed warning. The speed continued to increase, a distress call was transmitted and acknowledged by the air traffic control and the engine thrust was reduced to flight idle. The crew was active during the entire event. The dialogue between the pilots consisted mainly of different perceptions regarding turn directions. They also expressed the need to climb. At this stage, the pilots were probably subjected to spatial disorientation. The aircraft collided with the ground one minute and twenty seconds after the initial height loss. The two pilots were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Widerøe flight WIF 921 took off from Tromsø airport (ENTC) at time 1401 with an estimated landing time at Hammerfest airport (ENHF) 1442. On board the aircraft, a DHC-8-103 with registration LN-WIK, were a crew of two pilots and one cabin attendant, 26 fare paying passengers and one passive cabin attendant. The crew had taken off from ENHF earlier in the day, when the weather and wind did not cause any problems. During the approach to ENHF the crew was informed about variable and occasional gusty wind from south-east. The wind direction favoured runway 23 and the crew planned the landing accordingly. The copilot was Pilot Flying (PF) and the commander was Pilot Not Flying (PNF). The copilot was newly hired and was flying under supervision. The crew was kept updated on the wind conditions by the AFIS operator, and at times the gusty wind conditions favoured runway 05. The copilot left the control to the commander who continued the approach to runway 05. Just before landing the wind direction veered to the right and increased in strength, resulting in a significant tail wind component. This resulted in a marked increase in the descent rate which the commander tried to stop by advancing to full power. However, the altitude was too low and the airplane touched down hard just inside the runway edge on runway 05. At touch down the right main landing gear leg failed. The airplane slid on the belly, right partly retracted main wheel and wing tip for some 650 m, and stopped just after the second (TWY B) turnoff to the apron. The fire and rescue vehicles were quickly at the scene and sprayed foam on the plane to prevent fire. The cabin attendant calmed the passengers who wanted to get out of the plane quickly due to smoke and burned smell in the cabin. It took 33 seconds from the commander ordered evacuation until this was initiated. The delay was mainly caused by the fact that the order did not get through the cabin’s Public Address (PA) system.

The aircraft departed Tromsø-Langnes Airport at 2248LT on an ambulance flight to Bardufoss, carrying one patient and three crew members. Four minutes later, at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the crew contacted Bardufoss control and obtained information for an ILS approach to runway 29. At 2254LT, the crew awas cleared to descend to 6,000 feet and was instructed by ATC to report once established on the ILS. At about 22:57:50 at a position about 8 NM north of the Målselv (MLV) NDB, the airspeed increased from 265 knots to 285 knots over a distance of about 5 NM. This speed was maintained up to the NDB. At 22:59:30 LN-AAE passed the MLV NDB. Instead of performing the left hand procedure turn from 174° to 122°, the crew continued a straight heading for about 30 seconds at an airspeed about 100 knots above the recommended approach speed. The aircraft was about 2 NM (4 km) south in relation to the established procedure pattern. The airplane should still have been at 6,000 feet until established on the ILS but it had descended 1,250 feet below the minimum altitude when it collided with a relatively flat mountain ridge just south of the summit of Langfjelltind (4,935 feet). The wreckage was found about 35 km east-southeast of the airport and all four occupants were killed.

Following an uneventful charter flight from Zurich, the crew started the approach to runway 19 in excellent weather conditions. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed nose first. On touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid on its nose for several meters before both mains gears collapsed as well. The airplane slid on its belly for dozen meters, veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a grassy area. All 60 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After liftoff from runway 24 at Oslo-Fornebu Airport, while climbing to a height of 30 feet at a speed of 140 knots, the stall warning activated. The captain decided to land but the remaining distance of 1,100 meters was insufficient. Unable to stop, the aircraft overran and plunged into the bay. All 33 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft was completing a flight from RAF Wittering to Tromsø, carrying a Harrier load. After touchdown on a runway covered with slush, the airplane deviated to the left. The Aircraft Captain, without saying 'he had control' feathered the two starboard engines. The co-pilot, believing he was still in control, applied right rudder and brakes. Instead of a gentle correction to the centreline, the aircraft swung hard right and left the runway. As it crossed over the 'monnie' drain the cockpit area of the fuselage broke off by the crew door, coming to rest at an angle to the main fuselage, the tail also broke off. At this stage the crew 'legged it' through the flight deck windows leaving everything still switched on and live! The passenger had trapped his hand on the 'towel rail' when it folded under the impact, the navigator gave him a 'whack' which loosened his hand but broke his fingers.On hitting the ground outside the aircraft, the ALM had a heart attack (non-fatal). The main fuselage was covered in dirt which had entered through the break and if the ALM and pax had been sitting there they would have been killed. The Load remained 'nailed to the floor' and not one bottle was broken!
Crew:
F/Lt Charles Collier,
F/O Brian Clucas,
F/S Taff Thomas,
F/S Tony ‘Chomper’ Lamb,
Sgt Ivan Gervais,
Sgt Merv Corke,
Cpl Keith Simmonds,
Cpl Tom Blues,
SAC Bob Ford,
SAC Bob Thacker,
SAC Keri Eynon,
SAC Fred Kitts.
Source: http://ukmamsoba.org/obb022318_light.html

The aircraft on amphibious floats departed from Tromso at 1015 hours for a scheduled flight to Harstad. In addition to the pilot, a company mechanic was on board as an assistant and there were three passengers. The weather was not good, with low cloud, heavy snow showers and reduced visibility. Due to the conditions, the pilot elected to divert from the track laid out in the company's route manual. This change of route however was not reported to air traffic control because of poor radio coverage at low altitude. This is a very rugged coastal area with numerous fjords and inlets amidst mountains rising to four thousand feet. As the Otter flew in on the west side of Rossfjord, some 45 kilometres south-west of Tromso, visibility dropped and the pilot said to his assistant “We'll cut across here, I know this area” and started a right turn. Eye witness reports put the aircraft at this time at between 100 feet and 25 feet above the ice-covered fjord, although the pilot was later to claim he was flying at 500 feet. Immediately after starting the turn, the right wingtip and float made contact with the ground. The aircraft was thrown to the left at the first impact and crashed at a 35 degree angle to its direction of travel. It caught fire and was burnt to destruction. All five occupants survived the crash but one passenger and the pilot's assistant suffered severe burns and were flown by helicopter to hospital in Tromso.
Source: https://www.dhc-3archive.com

The crew left Skattøra (Tromsø ) in the afternoon on an ambulance flight to Kårvikhamn. En route, he encountered poor weather conditions and the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 1,5 km north of Ansnes. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Bjørnar Bergsdal, pilot,
Sgt Otto Grindvold, radio operator.

Shortly after takeoff from the bay of Vagsfjorden off Harstad, while in initial climb, the seaplane stalled and crashed into the sea. All 33 occupants were quickly rescued and the airplane sank an hour later.

While cruising at an altitude of 13,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the four engine seaplane hit the slope of a mountain located 31 km northeast of Harstad. The wreckage was found in a rocky are some 290 meters from the summit and all 35 occupants were killed. It is believed that the aircraft was slightly off course at the time of the accident.
Crew:
John Buer, pilot,
Karl Bengtsen, copilot,
Johannes Daae Risnes, navigator,
Paul Idland, radio operator,
Gunnar Michaelsen, mechanic,
Atle Fedje, steward,
Ester Mildrid Løsnes, stewardess.