1987-04-02: Beechcraft 90 King Air (LN-KCR) — Scanex Air — Skien, Norway

10 fatalitiesSkien, NorwayLanding (descent or approach)

A twin-engine aircraft crashed during its final approach to Skien-Geiteryggen Airport, resulting in the deaths of all ten people on board.

What happened

An aircraft traveling from Hanover was conducting an approach to runway 01 at Skien-Geiteryggen Airport under marginal weather conditions. The flight proceeded without incident until the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet. At this stage, the twin engine aircraft performed a sharp right bank, reaching a 60-degree angle, before the nose pitched downward. The plane struck the ground a short distance from the runway threshold and was immediately consumed by flames.

The impact and subsequent post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were 10 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported.

Findings

Investigators were unable to establish a definitive cause for the crash because the wreckage was completely destroyed by the force of the impact and the intensity of the fire. However, evidence suggests that the aircraft encountered icing conditions while flying between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. It is believed that these icing conditions may have compromised the stability and controllability of the aircraft during the approach.

Probable cause

The exact cause remains undetermined due to wreckage destruction, though encountering icing conditions at higher altitudes is considered a likely contributing factor.