1961-08-29: De Havilland DHC-3 Otter — Eastern Provincial Airways - EPA — Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord), Greenland

1 fatality • Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord), Greenland • Takeoff (climb)

Probable cause

An in-flight fire, initiated and sustained by a severe fuel leak. The fuel leak was caused by the locking of a carburetor drain plug to unscrew.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

Few minutes after takeoff from Søndre Strømfjord Airport, en route for Egedesminde (Aasiaat), the aircraft caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed. A crew member was killed while five other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause (official findings): An in-flight fire, initiated and sustained by a severe fuel leak. The fuel leak was caused by the locking of a carburetor drain plug to unscrew.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1961-08-29 De Havilland DHC-3 Otter accident near Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord), Greenland?

Few minutes after takeoff from Søndre Strømfjord Airport, en route for Egedesminde (Aasiaat), the aircraft caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed. A crew member was killed while five other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was…

Were there any fatalities in the 1961-08-29 De Havilland DHC-3 Otter accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1961-08-29 involved a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter, registration CF-MEX, operated by Eastern Provincial Airways - EPA, at Kangerlussuaq (Søndre Strømfjord), Greenland.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

An in-flight fire, initiated and sustained by a severe fuel leak. The fuel leak was caused by the locking of a carburetor drain plug to unscrew.

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