What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was en route from Banak to Trondheim. While cruising at altitude north of Narvik, the four-engine transport lost control. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the Lavangen Fjord, located east of Harstad. All 51 occupants on board were killed in the impact. The passenger manifest included 41 female military assistants known as Luftwaffe Helferinnen, along with other personnel from the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the loss of control was triggered by a structural failure of the tail unit. This component broke off during flight, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled spin before impacting the water. Evidence suggests that the aircraft was operating with a heavy load at the time of the accident, which may have contributed to the structural stress leading to the failure.