Reykjavik – Vágar
Flight / Schedule
Reykjavik – Vágar
Aircraft
Fokker F27 FriendshipRegistration
TF-FIL
MSN
10356
Year of Manufacture
1968
Operator
Flugfélag ÍslandsDate
September 26, 1970 at 10:56 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Mt Knúkur Vágar
Region
Europe • Faroe Islands
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On September 26, 1970 at 10:56 AM, Reykjavik – Vágar experienced a crash involving Fokker F27 Friendship, operated by Flugfélag Íslands, with the event recorded near Mt Knúkur Vágar.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
34 people were known to be on board, 8 fatalities were recorded, 26 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 23.5%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 30, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Flights from Reykjavik to Vágar were cancelled on 23 and 24 September. On 25 September, while approaching the Faroe Islands, weather was poor and the crew diverted to Bergen Airport, Norway. In the morning of 26 September, it appears that weather conditions improved slightly at Vágar Airport. On approach, the crew encountered clouds and limited visibility so the pilot was unable to locate the fjord mouth. Following a holding circuit of 25 minutes over the MY NDB, the crew initiated a descent. A minute later, while at an altitude of 1,55 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Knukur located few km from the airfield. A crew members and seven passengers were killed while 26 other occupants were injured.
Aircraft reference details include registration TF-FIL, MSN 10356, year of manufacture 1968.
Fatalities
Total
8
Crew
1
Passengers
7
Other
0
Crash Summary
Flights from Reykjavik to Vágar were cancelled on 23 and 24 September. On 25 September, while approaching the Faroe Islands, weather was poor and the crew diverted to Bergen Airport, Norway. In the morning of 26 September, it appears that weather conditions improved slightly at Vágar Airport. On approach, the crew encountered clouds and limited visibility so the pilot was unable to locate the fjord mouth. Following a holding circuit of 25 minutes over the MY NDB, the crew initiated a descent. A minute later, while at an altitude of 1,55 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Knukur located few km from the airfield. A crew members and seven passengers were killed while 26 other occupants were injured.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
30
Estimated Survivors
26
Fatality Rate
23.5%
Known people on board: 34
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Reykjavik – Vágar
Operator
Flugfélag ÍslandsFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • Faroe Islands
Aircraft Details
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