Aircraft Collision with Factory Chimney During Approach to Copenhagen-Kastrup (CCCP-L1874)

Incident Overview and Approach Details During a descent to Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the flight crew encountered adverse weather characterized by low clouds, fog, and limited visibility. At 0617 local time, the aircraft passed over Kastrup Airfield at an altitude of 1,500 meters. Air traffic control then instructed the crew to begin a new approach to runway 12. The source notes that language difficulties prevented the crew from fully understanding some of the instructions. Four minutes later, the crew initiated the approach to runway 12. ## Impact and Casualties Because of the low visibility, the captain reduced the aircraft's altitude in an attempt to establish visual contact with the ground. The aircraft struck the chimney of the Ørsted Electric Factory, located 6.7 km short of runway 12. On impact, the right wing was sheared off, and the aircraft crashed into the Sydhavnen canal. The aircraft sank to a depth of 5 meters. All 23 occupants were killed, including one Danish, two British, one American, and three West-German citizens. ## Investigation Findings The official probable cause determination stated that the crew continued the approach under visual flight rules (VFR) in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions. The pilot-in-command reduced altitude below the minimum prescribed altitude to establish visual contact with the ground until the right wing contacted an obstacle. Russian investigators additionally considered that ATC assistance was insufficient, that the weather information transmitted to the crew was incomplete, and that landing clearance was given too early, noting the crew had a two-hour fuel reserve and should have waited for weather improvement.