Aircraft Accident Near Vágar Airport: Descent Through Cloud and Terrain Impact (TF-FIL)

Operational Background and Diversion Flights from Reykjavik to Vágar were cancelled on 23 and 24 September. On 25 September, while approaching the Faroe Islands, the crew encountered poor weather and diverted to Bergen Airport, Norway. ## Approach and Accident In the morning of 26 September, weather conditions at Vágar Airport appear to have improved slightly. During the approach, the crew encountered clouds and limited visibility, and the pilot was unable to locate the fjord mouth. After a 25-minute holding circuit over the MY NDB, the crew initiated a descent. One minute later, at an altitude of 1,55 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Knukur, located a few kilometers from the airfield. ## Casualties Eight people were killed, including a crew member and seven passengers. Twenty-six other occupants were injured. ## Official Probable Cause The official findings state that the accident occurred because FI 701 began a descent through cloud procedure from a starting point other than over the MY NDB. During the procedure, the aircraft hit close to the highest point of Myggenaes at an altitude of about 1,500 feet. The report says the reason for starting the procedure from a position other than MY was probably interference caused by FI 701's weather radar, which gave the crew an erroneous indication on the ADF that they were passing the MY NDB.