On August 14, 1967, a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 (registration N6362U) operated by Aviation Communications was involved in an aviation accident near Greenland, Greenland in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of spatial orientation caused by whiteout conditions during the cruise phase of flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A flight traveling from Reykjavik to Kulusuk crashed during cruise due to severe weather, resulting in one fatality and two serious injuries.
What happened
A flight originating from Reykjavik was en route to Kulusuk to deliver various pieces of equipment when the aircraft encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. While operating in a state of whiteout, the crew experienced a loss of spatial orientation. During this period of low visibility, the aircraft impacted the terrain, resulting in a crash.
The accident resulted in one fatality and left two other occupants seriously injured. The flight was in the cruise phase of operation at the time of the impact.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the presence of whiteout conditions, which led to the crew losing their orientation while flying through the degraded visibility.
Probable cause
The loss of spatial orientation caused by whiteout conditions during the cruise phase of flight.