Aircraft impact on Mt Smjörfjöll during descent

3 fatalities • Egilsstaðir, Iceland • Landing (descent or approach)

A twin-engine airplane crashed into a mountain slope near Egilsstaðir Airport during an approach in poor visibility.

What happened

During an approach to Egilsstaðir Airport, a twin engine airplane struck the side of Mt Smjörfjöll. The accident occurred while the aircraft was descending toward its destination. At the time of the impact, the flight was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), but the pilot was navigating through challenging weather characterized by low cloud cover and restricted visibility.

The collision took place on the slope of the 1,251-meter peak, located a short distance from the airport. The crash resulted in three fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants of the aircraft.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the decision to continue VFR operations despite deteriorating weather conditions. This led to controlled flight into terrain as the visibility became insufficient for safe navigation around the mountain's topography.

Probable cause

The pilot attempted to maintain visual flight rules in adverse weather with low cloud ceilings, resulting in a collision with terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1980-09-22 Britten-Norman Islander accident near Egilsstaðir, Iceland?

A twin-engine airplane crashed into a mountain slope near Egilsstaðir Airport during an approach in poor visibility.

Were there any fatalities in the 1980-09-22 Britten-Norman Islander accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 3 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1980-09-22 involved a Britten-Norman Islander, registration TF-RTO, operated by Flugfélag Austurlands, at Egilsstaðir, Iceland.

What was the probable cause of the accident?