Country
code

Finnmark

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-8-103 in Hammerfest

Date & Time: May 1, 2005 at 1436 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LN-WIK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tromsø – Hammerfest
MSN:
394
YOM:
1995
Flight number:
WF921
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12900
Captain / Total hours on type:
5500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
60
Aircraft flight hours:
20462
Aircraft flight cycles:
42997
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
The investigations show that Widerøe permitted landings in up to the maximum demonstrated crosswind component of 36 kt and in up to 10 kt tail wind during short field operations. AIBN recommends that Widerøe should review the wind limitations and prohibit tail wind component during landings on short runways in conditions with large variations in wind direction and strength. AIBN is issuing 7 safety recommendations.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland Dash-8-103 in Båtsfjord

Date & Time: Jun 14, 2001 at 1608 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LN-WIS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alta – Båtsfjord
MSN:
247
YOM:
1990
Flight number:
WF954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
21890
Captain / Total hours on type:
321.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1000
Aircraft flight hours:
23935
Aircraft flight cycles:
29469
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Alta Airport at 1522LT on a regular schedule service to Båtsfjord, carrying 24 passengers and a crew of three. Following an uneventful flight, the crew started a LOC/DME approach to runway 21. Shortly after passing the missed approach point, the pilot-in-command lost visual contact with the runway so the captain took over controls and continued the approach. The airplane became unstable and the crew encountered control problems due to difficulties to disengage the autopilot system. This caused the aircraft to lose height during the last segment and it landed hard, causing the right main gear to collapse upon impact. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres then veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a grassy area 23 metres to the right of the runway. All 27 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following factors were identified:
- The crew deviated from the prescribed procedure,
- The crew deviated from the company Standard Operating Procedure,
- The crew failed to comply with CRM requirements as described in the company Flight Operations Manual,
- The crew continued the approach after passing the minimum altitude without adequate visual reference with the runway,
- The crew did not consider 'go around' when passing Decision Point without adequate, visual references to the runway,
- The crew did not consider 'go around' during a landing with apparent flight control problems,
- The crew completed the landing despite the fact that the aircraft was not in a stabilised configuration,
- The non-stabilised landing with a high descent rate overloaded the right undercarriage fuse pin to a point at which it collapsed,
- The public address system did not function when used by the commander for evacuation.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Honningsvåg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1990 at 1430 LT
Operator:
Registration:
67-063
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
63
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Honningsvåg-Valan in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft started to pitch up and down then stalled. The crew increased power and the aircraft was able to gain a little height when it stalled a second time and crashed 150 meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew completed the approach at a too low airspeed according to the wind component and force. At the time of the accident, atmospheric turbulences and relative strong winds were present in the approach path and the crew failed to adapt his speed according to these phenomenons. The relative low experience of the crew was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest II in Alta

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-MAH
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
441-0002
YOM:
1977
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the twin engine airplane overran, lost its nose gear and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Båtsfjord

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-MAF
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
441
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Gamvik: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1982 at 1327 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LN-BNK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kirkenes – Vadsø – Vardø – Båtsfjord – Berlevåg – Mehamn – Honningsvåg – Alta
MSN:
568
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
WF933
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
8474
Captain / Total hours on type:
5011.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1830
Copilot / Total hours on type:
918
Aircraft flight hours:
9925
Aircraft flight cycles:
20953
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Kirkenes on a regular schedule service (flight WF933) to Alta with intermediate stops in Vadsø, Vardø, Båtsfjord, Berlevåg, Mehamn and Honningsvåg. The aircraft departed Berlevåg Airport at 1319LT and the crew reported to Mehamn Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) at 1322 that he was at an altitude of 2,000 feet over the Tanafjord with an ETA in Mehamn at 1333LT. Mehamn AFIS called flight 933 at 1335 but did not receive any answer. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Mehamn, SAR operations were initiated. The wreckage was located two days later in the Tanafjord mouth, at a depth of 40 meters, about 6 km southeast of Gamvik. All 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control in-flight after the vertical stabilizer failed due to the combination of altitude turbulences, strong winds, unfavorable atmospheric currents and inappropriate reaction on part of the flying crew.

The accident occurred during a NATO military exercise, within a self-declared no-fly zone for allied military aircraft. A report in 1987 that radar had observed an unidentified aircraft which was on a collision course with the Twin Otter caused a second investigation to be started. It was concluded that the existence of other aircraft in the area could be ruled out; and that no other airborne objects could have caused the accident. The debate about the accident resurfaced in 1997 when several sources claimed there was new or overlooked evidence of the involvement of NATO aircraft. The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) decided in 1997 to investigate the new claims and concluded that there was no evidence to support these claims. The accident was ordered investigated again in November 2002 after a retired Norwegian air traffic controller said one of the Harrier pilots, involved in a mission about the time of the accident, had requested an immediate landing because of technical problems. The report was published on 20 September 2005. It fully supported the findings of all three previous reports and found no evidence for an impact with a Harrier or any other aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Partenavia P.68B on Mt Falkefjellet: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-MAD
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
78
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While descending to Vadsø Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to bad weather conditions. Too low, the twin engine airplane crashed on the slope of Mt Falkefjellet located 19 km north of the airport. The passenger was seriously injured while both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A-ND Norseman in Alta

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-BFU
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
327
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Alta. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Lake Gavnevann

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-PAB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vadsø – Alta
MSN:
811
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Vadsø to Alta, with two passengers (among them a Norwegian Army Lieutenant) and two pilots. While trying to land near Lake Gavnevann, the aircraft hit the ground, overturned and came to rest upside down. All four occupants were rescued few hours later and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Source: http://blhf.org/?id=1332008581

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina IVB off Alta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
KK-K
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
28096
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed and sank off Alta, in Altafjorden, due to damage in hull caused either by hard landing or collision with a floating object.
Source:
http://flyblader.com/onewebmedia/Nr 9 Catalina.pdf