Biggin Hill – Reykjavik

The crew was repatriating the aircraft from Kinshasa, Zaire, to the US. On the leg from Biggin Hill to Reykjavik, while approaching the Icelandic coast, the left engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Vestmannaeyjar Airport. While circling for landing, the right engine failed as well. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the sea few km offshore. Both occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Biggin Hill – Reykjavik

Registration

N9082N

MSN

500-3068

Year of Manufacture

1970

Date

September 23, 1994 at 09:02 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Delivery

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Vestmannaeyjar Southern Region (Suðurland)

Region

Europe • Iceland

Coordinates

63.4267°, -20.2699°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On September 23, 1994 at 09:02 PM, Biggin Hill – Reykjavik experienced a crash involving Rockwell Shrike Commander 500, operated by Eagle Air International, with the event recorded near Vestmannaeyjar Southern Region (Suðurland).

The flight was categorized as delivery and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The crew was repatriating the aircraft from Kinshasa, Zaire, to the US. On the leg from Biggin Hill to Reykjavik, while approaching the Icelandic coast, the left engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Vestmannaeyjar Airport. While circling for landing, the right engine failed as well. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the sea few km offshore. Both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N9082N, MSN 500-3068, year of manufacture 1970.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 63.4267°, -20.2699°.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

2

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew was repatriating the aircraft from Kinshasa, Zaire, to the US. On the leg from Biggin Hill to Reykjavik, while approaching the Icelandic coast, the left engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Vestmannaeyjar Airport. While circling for landing, the right engine failed as well. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the sea few km offshore. Both occupants were killed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Biggin Hill – Reykjavik

Flight Type

Delivery

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

Europe • Iceland

Aircraft Details

Registration

N9082N

MSN

500-3068

Year of Manufacture

1970

Similar Plane Crashes

August 11, 1940 at 12:00 AM

Royal Air Force - RAF

De Havilland DH.91 Albatross

The four engine aircraft christened 'Faraday' crashed on landing for unknown reason, while performing a mail flight from Bristol. All five occupants were unhurt as the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

November 2, 1941 at 12:00 PM12 Fatalities

United States Navy - USN

Martin PBM Mariner

The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Atlantic Ocean. Following an uneventful mission, the aircraft was returning to its base when pilots encountered poor weather conditions at destination. After circling the base while awaiting visibility improvement, the captain attempted a visual approach as no instruments were available at that time. While descending to 800 feet, the seaplane hit a mountain slope located near Krísuvík, some 25 km southeast of the Keflavik Airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 12 occupants were killed.

April 7, 1942 at 12:00 AM

Royal Air Force - RAF

De Havilland DH.91 Albatross

Upon landing in Reykjavik, the gear collapsed and the aircraft christened 'Franlkin' was damaged beyond repair. All four crew members escaped unhurt.

April 14, 1942 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

Flugfélag Akureyrar

Waco YKS-7

Shortly after take off from Reykjavik, the engine failed. The pilot decided to return and on final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway . Both occupants were killed.

August 14, 1942 at 12:00 AM6 Fatalities

German Air Force - Deutsche Luftwaffe

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

The four engine aircraft was shot down by the pilots of a USAAF P.38 and a Curtiss P-40 and crashed into the sea some 15 km west of Reykjavik. All six crew members were killed. Crew (I./KG 40): Ofw Fritz Köhn, Ofw Philipp Haisch, Ofw Ottmar Ebener, Uffz Wolgang Schulze, Ofw Artur Wohlleben, Ofw Albert Winkelmann.

January 9, 1943 at 11:36 AM9 Fatalities

Royal Air Force - RAF

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Shortly after take off from Reykjavik Airport, while on a transit flight from Europe to the US, the engine number three caught fire and exploded. The crew attempted to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the engine number three fell off and the aircraft landed in flames. On touchdown, the right main gear failed and the aircraft skidded for several hundred yards before coming to rest with both wings on fire. Nine crew members were killed while six others were injured. Crew (120th Squadron): W/O P. L. B. Ellis, pilot, † F/S J. G. Benson, copilot, † F/S G. Lowrison, radio navigator, † Sgt D. McClelland, flight engineer, F/S A. Barthorpe, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt G. Young, wireless operator and air gunner, Sgt W. Stanfield, wireless operator and air gunner. † Passengers: Cdr C. Harris, Lt A. Finn, S/L H. Catchlove, F/O W. Wright, † F/L F. H. Salt, † LAC M. I. Kidd, † Cpl H. Y. Mills, † Cpl J. D. Cole. †