17 fatalities

1972-07-11: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (67-056) — Royal Norwegian Air Force - Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret — Mt Lille Tussen (Grytøya Island), Norway

Mt Lille Tussen (Grytøya Island), NorwayFlight

On July 11, 1972, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration 67-056) operated by Royal Norwegian Air Force - Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Lille Tussen (Grytøya Island), Norway in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain that occurred in poor weather conditions consisting of low clouds, fog and rain falls. 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 1781233883Data APIEditorial standards

After ignoring instructions to divert to Bodø, a flight from Bardufoss to Stokmarknes encountered poor weather and struck Mount Lille Tussen on Grytøya Island. All 17 occupants were killed.

Flight Details

The aircraft departed from Bardufoss en route to Stokmarknes. Prior to departure, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions along the route, and the captain was instructed to proceed directly to Bodø instead. Despite these instructions, the captain decided after takeoff to continue to Stokmarknes.

Accident Sequence

While cruising at altitude, the crew encountered poor weather characterized by low clouds, fog, and rain. The aircraft subsequently struck the slope of Mount Lille Tussen, which has an elevation of 800 meters, located on Grytøya Island. The impact site was approximately 75 kilometers northeast of Stokmarknes-Skagen Airport.

Wreckage

Wreckage was found 20 meters below the summit of Mount Lille Tussen. All 17 occupants on board were killed.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the accident was a controlled flight into terrain that occurred in poor weather conditions consisting of low clouds, fog, and rain. For an unknown reason, the captain decided to fly to Stokmarknes despite the instructions received prior to departure. It was found that the night before the flight, the captain had attended a party and failed to observe sufficient rest time. Additionally, the captain's blood showed an alcohol concentration estimated between 1 and 1.5‰.