What happened
During a flight originating from Sondreströmfjord, the crew began their descent toward Nuuk. The aircraft landed on an area of water that had not been previously inspected for hazards, which was a deviation from established safety protocols. Although the pilots initially believed the touchdown had proceeded normally, the aircraft suddenly veered to the right and developed a steep nose-down pitch shortly after contact with the surface.
A rapid deceleration followed as the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter sank into the water and became partially submerged. While rescue efforts successfully saved all three crew members and three passengers, the accident resulted in 15 fatalities due to drowning.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified a mechanical failure as the primary factor. Specifically, the doors for the nose wheel were not properly closed or secured prior to landing, leaving a 70 mm opening. Upon hitting the water at a high rate of speed, the force caused these doors to be torn away. The resulting immense water pressure entered the nose wheel well and pushed the aft bulkhead inward, causing significant structural damage to the forward cabin area.