Aircraft overrun into bay at Oslo-Fornebu Airport

No fatalities • Oslo-Fornebu, Norway • Takeoff (climb)

An aircraft experienced a stall warning during initial climb from Oslo-Fornebu Airport, leading to an unsuccessful emergency landing attempt and subsequent excursion into the water.

What happened

During takeoff from runway 24 at Oslo-Fornebu Airport, the aircraft was in its initial climb phase at a speed of 140 knots and an altitude of approximately 30 feet when a stall warning was triggered. In response to the alert, the captain attempted to abort the takeoff and return for a landing. However, with only 1,100 meters of runway remaining, there was inadequate distance to decelerate the aircraft safely. As a result, the plane overran the runway and entered the adjacent bay.

Despite the impact with the water, all 33 occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.

Findings

Investigations into the incident revealed that the aircraft was maintaining the appropriate airspeed during the climb. The activation of the stall warning was not due to an aerodynamic stall, but rather resulted from a computer error that incorrectly processed data received from the Pitot tubes. Records indicated that this specific aircraft had experienced several instances of erroneous stall warnings in the days preceding the accident.

Probable cause

A computer malfunction caused by incorrect processing of Pitot tube data triggered a false stall warning during takeoff.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1973-01-30 Douglas DC-9 accident near Oslo-Fornebu, Norway?

An aircraft experienced a stall warning during initial climb from Oslo-Fornebu Airport, leading to an unsuccessful emergency landing attempt and subsequent excursion into the water.

Were there any fatalities in the 1973-01-30 Douglas DC-9 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1973-01-30 involved a Douglas DC-9, registration LN-RLM, operated by Scandinavian Airlines System - SAS, at Oslo-Fornebu, Norway.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A computer malfunction caused by incorrect processing of Pitot tube data triggered a false stall warning during takeoff.

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