What happened
During a ferry mission originating in Kuwait and destined for the United States, an aircraft departed from Keflavik, Iceland, with an intended stop in Narsarsuaq, Greenland. While performing an instrument approach to the Narsarsuaq runway, the pilot was unable to establish visual contact with the landing strip. Due to these visibility issues, the decision was made to divert the flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.
As the aircraft proceeded toward the diversion airport, the fuel levels reached a critical state. Unable to reach Kangerlussuaq before running out of fuel, the crew was forced to perform an emergency landing on the Greenlandic icecap. The impact of the landing attempt resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries during the event.
Findings
- The flight was operating under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) at the time of the accident.
- The incident occurred during daylight hours.
- Fuel exhaustion during the diversion to Kangerlussuaq was the primary factor leading to the forced landing on the icecap.