Investigation Summary
On October 2, 1948, the flying boat Bukken Bruse was operating a domestic Norwegian flight from Oslo to Trondheim. Upon arrival at Hommelvika, the crew encountered poor weather characterized by high winds and white-capped waves. The investigation determined that the pilot-in-command attempted to land in an unfavourable direction relative to the crosswind and within a restricted, short landing area. As the aircraft approached the water for touchdown, a sudden wind gust destabilized the plane. The right wing float struck the water with sufficient force to break away, removing the lateral stability required for a safe water landing. The aircraft subsequently capsized, and the forward section of the fuselage submerged. The rapid ingress of water trapped many passengers in the forward and middle sections of the cabin. Notably, all 26 survivors were seated in the smoking compartment at the rear of the aircraft, which remained accessible to an emergency exit as the nose sank.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation concluded that the crash was caused by the pilot's loss of control while attempting to land the flying boat in challenging conditions. Contributing factors included significant crosswinds, rough seas, and the limited maneuvering space available within the bay at Hommelvik.
Video Analysis
Bertrand Russell recounts the Bukken Bruse crash — Philosopher Bertrand Russell, a survivor of the 1948 crash, describes his experience and how his preference for the smoking section saved his life.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Wing Floats
Stabilizing structures mounted under the outer wings of a flying boat to prevent the wingtips from touching the water during takeoff and landing.
Fuselage
The main body of the aircraft, which in a flying boat acts as a hull to provide buoyancy on the water.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was named Bukken Bruse after the fairy tale 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'.
- 02Famous philosopher Bertrand Russell was among the 26 survivors.
- 03All survivors were seated in the smoking compartment at the rear of the cabin.
- 04The aircraft was a Short Sandringham, a civilian conversion of the Short Sunderland military flying boat.
- 05The crash occurred in the bay adjacent to Hommelvik near Trondheim.
- 06The aircraft's Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) was SB.2023.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Transition to Land-Based Infrastructure
Source ↗The Bukken Bruse disaster, along with other flying boat accidents like the Kvitbjorn disaster, contributed to the Norwegian authorities' decision to phase out flying boat operations in favor of land-based airports and conventional aircraft to improve safety and reliability in challenging weather.