Accident Summary
A ferry flight from Kuwait to the United States concluded with a forced landing on the Greenland icecap after fuel became critically low. The aircraft was destroyed during the landing attempt, and the commander suffered minor injuries. The accident occurred in daylight under visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
Flight History
The flight departed Keflavik, Iceland (BIKF), with a planned destination of Narsarsuaq, Greenland (BGBW). Before departure, the aircraft had sufficient fuel for more than three hours and 40 minutes of flight, and the flight to BGBW was expected to take approximately two hours. However, after becoming airborne, air traffic control (ATC) restricted the flight to cruise at flight level 200 (FL200) instead of the planned FL280. This lower altitude and the resulting power setting reduced the final fuel reserve to approximately zero minutes, though the commander was not initially concerned due to the short flight duration.
Approach and Diversion
During the instrument approach to BGBW, the aircraft remained in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) throughout the final approach and never descended below the clouds. The commander did not establish visual contact with the runway, most likely because the aircraft did not follow the NDB DME Runway 07 approach procedure descent profile. A missed approach was executed, and the flight diverted to the alternate aerodrome, Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (BGSF).
Landing and Aftermath
En route to BGSF, ATC imposed an altitude restriction of FL190. To conserve fuel, one engine was intentionally stopped, which reduced the aircraft's range. Approximately 57 minutes before the estimated time of arrival at BGSF, a shallow descent was initiated. This descent profile consumed more fuel than a steeper descent would have. As fuel levels became critically low, the commander decided to perform a precautionary landing on the terrain. The aircraft touched down on the rugged and bumpy surface of the icecap, resulting in its destruction.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause states that after the flight was airborne from BIKF, it was restricted by ATC to cruise at FL200 instead of FL280. The lower flight altitude and the power setting used resulted in a reduction of the final reserve to approximately zero minutes. At that time the commander was not concerned about the final reserve because the flight to BGBW was only a two hours flight and as the aircraft before take-off from BIKF had fuel for more than three hours and 40 minutes of flight. During the approach to BGBW the flight never came below the clouds and was in IMC during the entire final approach. The most likely cause was that the aircraft was not following the NDB DME 07 approach procedure descent profile. Consequently the commander did not get visual contact during the approach and he had to make a missed approach. During the diversion to the alternate aerodrome, BGSF the flight was altitude restricted by ATC to FL190. One engine was intentionally stopped during the diversion to BGSF. The consequence was a reduction of the aircraft range. A shallow descent was initiated approximately 57 minutes before ETA over BGSF. The shallow descent profile did consume more fuel than a steeper descent profile. The commander decided to make a precautionary landing in the terrain. The aircraft was destroyed during the landing attempt on the rugged and bumpy surface of the icecap.