35 fatalities

Four-engine seaplane crash near Harstad kills all 35 on board (LN-IAV)

Harstad, NorwayFlight

On August 28, 1947, a Short S.25 Sandringham (registration LN-IAV) operated by Det Norske Luftfartselskap - DNL was involved in an aviation accident near Harstad, Norway in flight. 35 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck a mountain slope while slightly off course during poor weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine seaplane struck a mountain slope 31 km northeast of Harstad during poor weather at 13,000 feet. All 35 occupants were killed in the accident.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 13,000 feet under poor weather conditions. The four-engine seaplane collided with the slope of a mountain situated 31 km northeast of Harstad. Recovery teams located the wreckage in a rocky area approximately 290 meters from the summit. All 35 occupants on board were killed in the impact.

Findings

Investigations indicated that the aircraft was likely slightly off course at the time of the accident. The crew consisted of a pilot, copilot, navigator, radio operator, mechanic, steward, and stewardess.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck a mountain slope while slightly off course during poor weather conditions.