On January 24, 1977, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration VP-FAP) operated by British Antarctic Survey - BAS was involved in an aviation accident near Gomez Nunatak, Antarctica during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Crew mistook snow slope for a flat landing site. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a landing attempt at Gomez Nunatak, Adelaide Island, Antarctica, the pilot misjudged the terrain, causing the aircraft to collide with a snow slope. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned; all five occupants evacuated safely.
Incident
During a landing attempt on a level landing strip at Gomez Nunatak, Adelaide Island, Antarctica, the pilot made an error of judgment and instead landed on hilly terrain. The aircraft subsequently collided with a snow slope and came to rest. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Aftermath
All five occupants were evacuated safely from the accident site. The aircraft was assessed as damaged beyond repair and was abandoned on location. Subsequently, both engines and the avionics equipment were salvaged from the wreckage.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause: The crew mistook a snow slope for a flat landing site.
