Dassault Falcon 20 crashes into Greenland terrain during night approach

Casualties unknown • DE

A Dassault Falcon 20 crashed into mountainous terrain near Narsarsuaq, Greenland, resulting in three fatalities due to a combination of fatigue and procedural errors.

What happened

On August 5, 2001, a Dassault Falcon 20, registration D-CBNA, crashed into mountainous terrain approximately 4.5 nm southwest of Narsarsuaq (BGBW), Greenland. The aircraft was operating a non-scheduled international cargo flight from Gdansk, Poland, to Louisville, USA, with several technical stops planned.

During the final approach to runway 07 in dark night conditions, the aircraft impacted terrain at approximately 700 feet MSL. The impact resulted in two fatalities among the flight crew and one fatality among the passenger. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.

The investigation

The investigation, involving the German BFU and the Danish AAIB, established that the aircraft was fully controllable and under the command of the crew until the moment of impact. The engines were found to be running at a power setting near flight idle, and the aircraft was in its landing configuration.

Investigators examined the flight crew's duty history and found they had been awake for approximately 22 hours at the time of the accident, having exceeded legal flight duty time limitations. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's technical status, noting that the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) was inoperative, although the operator's Master Minimum Equipment List (MEL) permitted such an inoperative state. Furthermore, the crew's adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) was scrutinized, specifically regarding approach procedures and altitude callouts.

Findings

Several critical factors contributed to the Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accident:

  • The flight crew failed to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures, specifically regarding the NDB/DME approach procedure, checklist usage, and altitude callouts.
  • The crew made a procedural error by deciding to execute a visual approach, which led to a lack of vertical position awareness.
  • The flight crew was experiencing peak fatigue due to exceeding flight duty time limits, which likely degraded their performance and decision-making.
  • The inoperative GPWS removed a vital safety defense that could have alerted the crew to their proximity to the terrain.
  • The crew was exposed to the "black hole" phenomenon during the night approach, making it difficult to maintain situational awareness.
  • Stress related to flight delays and the pressure to meet cargo delivery schedules may have contributed to improper decision-making.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by a combination of the flight crew's failure to follow established approach procedures and a lack of vertical position awareness, exacerbated by extreme fatigue and the absence of a functioning Ground Proximity Warning System.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the null aircraft accident near DE?

A Dassault Falcon 20 crashed into mountainous terrain near Narsarsuaq, Greenland, resulting in three fatalities due to a combination of fatigue and procedural errors.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on null involved a aircraft, at DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by a combination of the flight crew's failure to follow established approach procedures and a lack of vertical position awareness, exacerbated by extreme fatigue and the absence of a functioning Ground Proximity Warning System.

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