13 fatalities

Catalina crash into Førdesveten mountain near Bergen (K-AK)

Mt Førdesveten, NorwayFlight

On September 6, 1948, a Consolidated PBY Catalina (registration K-AK) operated by Royal Norwegian Air Force - Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Førdesveten, Norway in flight. 13 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with the mountain Førdesveten during a climb to 200 meters near Bergen. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A dual-registered aircraft crashed into a mountain near Bergen after climbing from coastal flight, resulting in the deaths of nine crew members and four passengers.

What happened

The K-AK and JX412 aircraft departed Stavanger-Sola Airport, proceeding northward along the coastline toward Herdla island. During this leg, the plane maintained an altitude of approximately 100 meters while flying just beneath the cloud base. Upon passing the Marsteinen lighthouse, the flight path was adjusted to head toward Bergen, and the aircraft began a climb to 200 meters.

Shortly after initiating this ascent, the plane struck the slopes of Førdesveten mountain, impacting just below the summit. The collision resulted in significant casualties. Thirteen people were killed, comprising the entire crew of nine and four passengers. Two additional passengers located in the tail section survived the impact but sustained injuries.

Findings

The accident occurred during a climb phase at low altitude near mountainous terrain. The specific contributing factors or detailed investigation conclusions are not provided in the source material beyond the sequence of events leading to the collision with the mountain.

Probable cause

Collision with the mountain Førdesveten during a climb to 200 meters near Bergen.