Aircraft impact with ice sheet during ferry flight

No fatalities • Narsarsuaq, Greenland • Flight

A twin-engine aircraft struck an ice sheet during a ferry flight from Missouri to the United Kingdom, resulting in no fatalities among the crew.

What happened

During a ferry flight originating from Springfield Airport, MO (SGF) and destined for Southend Municipal Airport (SEN), UK, the crew encountered severe weather conditions. While operating at 9,000 feet, the flight crew encountered icing conditions, which necessitated a descent to a lower altitude to move beneath the cloud layer. At an altitude of 5,125 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with an ice sheet while traveling at a speed of 180 knots.

At the time of the incident, the weather was characterized by moderate rain and a cloud base situated at 3,000 feet. Visibility was limited to 10 km, with winds recorded at 7 knots from a direction of 7°. Following the impact, the three crew members were successfully rescued by a Danish Navy Lynx helicopter. There were zero fatalities reported in the accident.

Findings

  • The crew performed a descent from 9,000 feet to avoid icing conditions.
  • The aircraft struck an ice sheet during the descent phase.

Probable cause

The aircraft collided with an ice sheet while the crew was descending to avoid icing conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1991-10-08 Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante accident near Narsarsuaq, Greenland?

A twin-engine aircraft struck an ice sheet during a ferry flight from Missouri to the United Kingdom, resulting in no fatalities among the crew.

Were there any fatalities in the 1991-10-08 Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1991-10-08 involved a Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, registration N731A, operated by BAC Express Airlines, at Narsarsuaq, Greenland.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft collided with an ice sheet while the crew was descending to avoid icing conditions.

Loading the flight search…

What you can do on Flight Finder

  • Search flights between any two airports with live fares.
  • By aircraft — pick a plane model (e.g. Boeing 787, Airbus A350) and see every route it flies from your origin.
  • Route map — click any airport worldwide to explore its destinations, or draw a radius to find nearby airports.
  • Global aviation safety — aviation accident database, 40,000+ records since 1980, with map and rankings by aircraft and operator.
  • NTSB safety feed — recent U.S. aviation accidents and incidents from the official NTSB CAROL database, updated daily.