What happened
On 13 April 1963, a Douglas DC-6B, registration OY-EAP, was conducting a ferry flight from Las Palmas to Copenhagen via Barcelona. During the final approach to runway 04 at Copenhagen Airport, the aircraft was operating on three engines. While descending through 3,500 to 4,000 feet, the crew configured the aircraft for landing by extending the undercarriage and increasing flap settings.
As the flight progressed on short final, the pilot-in-command requested full flaps. This configuration change caused the aircraft's speed to drop into a range that made maintaining a stable approach difficult, necessitating several power increases to prevent the aircraft from sinking too low. Shortly after the flaps were fully extended, the aircraft began to bank significantly. Realizing the landing could not be completed safely, the pilot attempted a go-around by applying full power and retracting the gear and flaps.
During this maneuver, the aircraft entered an uncontrollable right-hand turn with a violent bank. Approximately 10 seconds later, the starboard wing tip struck the ground roughly 200 meters past the runway threshold. The impact caused the outer section of the starboard wing to disintegrate, leading to the total destruction of the aircraft and a subsequent fire. There were 3 injuries among the crew, with no fatalities reported.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause was the pilot's decision to select full flaps while at an altitude and speed that did not allow for a safe approach. This configuration led to a loss of airspeed critical for maneuvering. The subsequent attempt to execute a go-around resulted in an unrecoverable bank and the eventual impact with the ground.