Incident Overview
A ferry flight from Washington, D.C., to Liverpool, UK, with intermediate stops in Sondreströmfjord and Reykjavik, ended in a fatal accident on the southeast coast of Greenland. The aircraft was flying between Greenland and Iceland when it encountered icing conditions, leading to a right engine failure. The crew declared an emergency and was vectored to Kulusuk Airport, a VFR airfield open to traffic only during daylight hours and located near the city of Angmagssalik (Tasiilaq).
Flight and Emergency
Approximately one hour after the emergency declaration, the crew initiated a descent toward Kulusuk. However, limited visibility due to night conditions and clouds prevented them from locating the runway, and they executed a go-around. About 45 minutes later, while descending to an altitude of 1,700 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Angmagssalik. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and both pilots were killed.
Attempted Approach
The crew had been attempting to land at Kulusuk, which is surrounded by mountainous terrain. The airport is marked as a VFR-only field, and the crew's inability to visually acquire the field likely led to the decision to go around. After the missed approach, the aircraft continued to descend and eventually collided with terrain.
Accident and Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident was a controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the impact, the aircraft was descending to 1,700 feet, while the minimum safe altitude for that area was 3,500 feet. The approach was being conducted below weather minimums, contributing to the inability to maintain terrain clearance.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident, as stated by investigators, was controlled flight into terrain while attempting an approach below weather minimums. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was descending to an altitude of 1,700 feet while the minimum safe altitude for that area was 3,500 feet.