Background
The C-130B Hercules, assigned to the 813th Tactical Carrier Wing at Forbes Air Force Base, departed from Évreux Air Base in France. The aircraft was en route to Bardufoss, Norway, to pick up troops participating in the NATO exercise Winter Express.
Accident
On approach to Bardufoss Air Station at night, the aircraft encountered snowy weather near freezing temperature with poor visibility. The Hercules impacted the terrain of Svanfjellet, west of Bardufoss, at an elevation of 2,650 feet on the island of Senja. The crash resulted in the loss of the entire crew, comprising five officers and two enlisted men.
Investigation
The official investigation determined that an air traffic controller cleared the aircraft to descend to 6,000 feet. However, the crew repeated an incorrect altitude clearance, and the radar controller at Bardufoss did not recognize the discrepancy.