No fatalities

Aircraft crash near Narsarsuaq Airport (N587JA)

Narsarsuaq, GreenlandLanding (descent or approach)

On January 3, 1969, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration N587JA) operated by General Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Narsarsuaq, Greenland during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck the ground short of the runway due to being too low during the final approach. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed during its final approach to Narsarsuaq Airport, resulting in the destruction of the plane and injuries to the pilot.

What happened

During a flight intended to ferry the aircraft to the United States, a twin-engine airplane was performing its final approach to Narsarsuaq Airport. While descending toward the runway, the aircraft maintained an altitude that was too low, leading to an impact with the ground several kilometers before reaching the airfield.

The collision resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. The pilot sustained injuries during the accident, though no other fatalities were reported.

Findings

  • The aircraft was operating at an insufficient altitude during the approach phase.
  • The crash occurred a short distance from the runway threshold.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck the ground short of the runway due to being too low during the final approach.