Royal Norwegian Air Force - Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

The accident occurred during a Norwegian military transport flight from Harstad/Narvik Airport (Evenes) in Norway to Kiruna Airport in Sweden. The flight was performed as a part of the Norwegian-led military exercise Cold Response. The aircraft, which was of the model C-130J-30 Super Hercules, had the call sign HAZE 01. HAZE 01 took off with a crew of four and one passenger on board. The aircraft climbed to Flight Level 130 and assumed a holding pattern south of Evenes. After one hour, the flight continued towards Kiruna Airport. The Norwegian air traffic control had radar contact and handed over the aircraft to the air traffic control on the Swedish side. Swedish air traffic control cleared HAZE 01 to descend to Flight Level 100 “when ready” and instructed the crew to contact Kiruna Tower. The crew acknowledged the clearance and directly thereafter, the aircraft left Flight Level 130 towards Flight Level 100. The lower limit of controlled airspace at the location in question is Flight Level 125. HAZE 01 informed Kiruna Tower that the aircraft was 50 nautical miles (NM) west of Kiruna and requested a visual approach when approaching. Kiruna Tower cleared HAZE 01, which was then in uncontrolled airspace, to Flight Level 70, and the aircraft continued to descend towards the cleared flight level. Neither ACC Stockholm nor Kiruna Tower had any radar contact with the aircraft during the sequence of events because the Swedish air navigation services do not have radar coverage at the altitudes at which HAZE 01 was situated. HAZE 01 levelled out at Flight Level 70 at 14.57 hrs. Half a minute later, the aircraft collided with the terrain between the north and south peaks on the west side of Kebnekaise. Data from the aircraft's recording equipment (CVR and DFDR) showed that HAZE 01 was flying in level flight at a ground speed of approximately 280 knots prior to the moment of collision and that the crew was not aware of the imminent danger of underlying terrain. The remaining distance to Kiruna Airport was 42 NM (77 km). Everyone on board received fatal injuries. Accidents in complex systems are rarely caused by a single factor, but there are often several circumstances that must coincide for an accident to occur. The analysis of the investigation deals with the circumstances which are deemed to have influenced the sequence of events and the barriers which are intended to prevent dangerous conditions from arising. In summary, the investigation indicates that latent weaknesses have existed both at the Norwegian Air Force and at LFV. It is these weaknesses and not the mistakes of individual persons that are assessed to be the root cause of the accident. On the part of flight operations, the investigation has found shortcomings with respect to procedures for planning and following up a flight. Together with a probably high confidence in air traffic control, this has led to the crew not noticing that the clearance entailed an altitude that did not allow for adequate terrain separation. In terms of the air traffic services, the investigation demonstrates that the aircraft was not issued clearances and flight information in accordance with applicable regulations. This is due to it not having been ensured that the air traffic controllers in question had sufficient experience and knowledge to guide air traffic from the west in towards Kiruna Airport in a safe manner under the present circumstances. The lack of radar coverage reduced the opportunities for air traffic control to monitor and guide air traffic. The aircraft's Ground Collision Avoidance System is the last barrier and is intended to be activated and provide warning upon the risk of obstacles in the aircraft's flight path. The investigation has shown that with the terrain profile in question and the settings in question, the criteria for a warning were not fulfilled. No technical malfunction on the aircraft has caused or contributed to the occurrence of the accident. The rescue operation was characterized by very good access to resources from both Sweden and abroad. The operations lasted for a relatively long time and were carried out under extreme weather conditions in difficult alpine terrain. The investigation of the rescue operation demonstrates the importance of further developing management, collaboration and training in several areas.

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

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.

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Prior to departure from Bardufoss to Stokmarknes, the crew was informed about the poor weather conditions en route and the captain was instructed to continue directly to Bodø. Despite these instructions, he decided after takeoff to fly to Stokmarknes. While in cruising altitude, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds, fog and rain falls when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Lille Tussen (800 meters high) located on the Grytøya Island, about 75 km northeast of the Stokmarknes-Skagen Airport. The wreckage was found 20 meters below the summit and all 17 occupants were killed.

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

On final approach to Røros Airport, the aircraft was too low when the left main gear struck the ground 13 meters short of runway threshold and was torn off. The aircraft partially belly landed and came to rest on the runway. There were no casualties.

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

On 22nd May '64 the Scandinavian personnel at the Lemera mission station were to be evacuated by an army convoy of trucks coming from Bukavu. The Otter was tasked with overseeing the operation from above. 303 took off, piloted by Gunnar Elg, with Gosta Kersmark as flight engineer in the right seat and four passengers (one radio operator and three observers) in the cabin. They followed the road southwards at an altitude of 1,200 feet, which they believed to be a safe height. They overflew Luvungi airstrip, and five kilometres further on were taking a look at a parked lorry when one of its occupants took a shot at them with an automatic weapon. The bullet struck the Otter with a loud bang and seemingly severed an oil line, as the oil pressure fell to zero. The engineer throttled back but the RPM remained the same, indicating that the oil pressure system connected to the propeller adjustment had been affected. As the Otter had a hydromatic propeller, he could neither reduce the RPM nor stop the oil leak. They headed down following the road, which was straight but narrow. The pilot decided he would try and land on the road. After some two minutes, the engine failed, accompanied by violent vibrations. They were then 30 feet over the road. Take-off flap had been selected during the descent, but just before landing the pilot pumped the flaps to the landing position. The Otter touched down on the road at a speed of 70 knots and rolled about 150 feet until the starboard wing was torn away on striking a tree. The aircraft left the road and lost the landing gear going over a ditch, before coming to rest. The engine was knocked off and thrown thirty feet forward. 303 was a complete wreck, but its occupants miraculously escaped with only a few cuts and bruises. The six crew congregated on the road and then set off at a brisk pace towards the convoy. The group was over-flown by a Piper Apache aircraft, whose pilot waved and notified Kamembe Tower of the mishap. At times, the six hid in the undergrowth when rebel troops were encountered. Eventually they met up with the convoy and were taken to safety, after a most frightening ordeal. At the time of the crash, the Otter had 4,389 hours on the airframe. On 25th May '64 United Nations C-47 serial 215 took off from Bukavu and flew over the downed Otter, which was judged to be beyond economical repair. A salvage attempt was not made due to the presence of hostile forces in the area. The Board of Inquiry into the incident recommended that the Otter be written off the UN inventory and the remains handed over to the Congolese government. Source: http://www.dhc3otter.com/20.htm

Noorduyn Norseman

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.

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

The airplane was carrying one passenger and eight crew members of the 333rd Squadron on a mail dropping mission out from Tromsø. After an uneventful dropping mission at Bjørnøya Island, Isfjord Radio, Longyearbyen, Ny-Ålesund and Hopen, in the Svalbard region, the crew was returning to Tromsø when he decided to make a last low pass over the Bjørnøya station. While flying at a height of 40 meters in snow falls, the pilot-in-command completed a turn to the right when the right wing struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed and disintegrated in one meter of snow. A radio operator was rescued while eight other occupants were killed.

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

During the takeoff roll, an undercarriage collapsed. The twin engine aircraft sank on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

During taxi maneuver, went out of control and ran into a ditch. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

The crew was engaged in a test flight following maintenance. After takeoff from Trondheim-Værnes Airport, while in initial climb at a height of some 80 meters, the twin engine aircraft banked right, dove into the ground and crashed in a snow covered field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Christian Fürst, pilot. Passengers: Karstein Domås, Helge J. Giørtz.

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

The plane took off from Stavanger-Sola Airport and flew on contact along the coastline northwards in the direction of Herdla island, north of Bergen. The altitude was about 100 meters just below the clouds. When passing over the Marsteinen lighthouse, course was set towards Bergen and they climbed to 200 m. Shortly after the plane hit the mountain Førdesveten just below the summit. The whole crew of nine and four passengers were killed. Two passengers in the tail section escaped with injuries. The aircraft had the dual registration K-AK and JX412. Crew: Lt Klaus Døscher, pilot Sgt Rolf Mikkelsen, copilot, Lt Walther Wangberg, navigator, Thor K. Johnsen, wireless operator, Sgt Haakon Haaland, wireless operator, Egil N. Fauske, wireless operator, Sgt Christoffer Kjellsen, mechanic, Sgt Jens Oskar Jensen, air gunner, Sgt Magnus Dyngeland, mechanic. Passengers: Andreas Ekedal, † Cpt Alf Tollefsen, † Sgt Bjørn Ørland, † Knut Gjerde, † Inge Sviland, Willy Nilsen. Source: http://flyblader.com/onewebmedia/Nr 9 Catalina.pdf

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

The crew was completing a training flight from Oslo-Fornebu Airport to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport. The twin engine aircraft crash landed for unknown reason and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members were unarmed. Crew: Lt Nils Arveschoug, Lt H. Hartmann, Lt F. Eriksrud.

Avro 652 Anson

The crew was in charge to deliver the aircraft to Oslo-Gardermoen Airport. Enroute, bad weather conditions were encountered and the pilot was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel shortage. The aircraft crash landed in Kråkerøy, south of Fredrikstad. While all five occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was written off.

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

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

Noorduyn Norseman

On landing in Lake Hurdalsjøen, the single engine ski equipped aircraft went through ice and sank. There were no casualties but the aircraft was lost.

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

The pilot was performing a solo training flight when he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in the Trondheim harbor. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was lost.

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

The pilot was performing a positioning flight to Stavanger to take part to the inauguration of the Sola Airport. He left Oslo with two other DH.60M Moth of the Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret). En route, he encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions and decided to attempt an emergency landing wen he lost control of the aircraft that crashed near the Lake Eikeren, north of Ytre Sandsvær. The pilot was killed.