Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I near Gap: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 2023 at 1050 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-HSLE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Gap - Gap
MSN:
208-00340
YOM:
2001
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Aircraft flight hours:
3793
Aircraft flight cycles:
7447
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Gap-Tallard Airport on a local skydiving mission, carrying 15 skydivers and one pilot. After all 15 skydivers jumped out, the pilot was returning to his departure point. This was the sixth flight of the day. The pilot started the descent then made a wide left turn to reach the final approach. At an altitude of 6,400 feet, in contrast to previous flights, the pilot turned right onto a south-westerly course and continued the descent in a straight line. At 1050LT, the plane collided head-on with the mountainside near the Pic de Crigne. The airplane disintegrated on impact and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
After completing the sixth parachute drop of the day, while descending toward the airfield, the pilot set a southeast course toward the terrain. The aircraft's trajectory and speed, along with the tone of the pilot's voice during a final exchange with the "Para Starter" just seconds before the collision with the terrain, suggest a deliberate maneuver. In the absence of elements supporting other hypotheses, this deviation from the return circuit to the airfield is compatible with a sudden impulsive act, allowing the pilot to escape from the psycho-emotional context from which he appeared to be suffering. In October 2022, the pilot was on a sick leave after attempting suicide on the 12th. The wife of the pilot stated that in the days leading up to the accident, she and her husband had separated.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan 675 near Elelim: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 2023 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-SMW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Elelim - Poik
MSN:
208-0609
YOM:
2018
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Elelim Airport at 1054LT on a flight to Poik, carrying four passengers, two pilots and a load of cargo. About six minutes later, it impacted the slope of a wooded mountain located 12 km from the airport. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I in Berisso

Date & Time: Feb 16, 2023 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CX-MAX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montevideo – Buenos Aires
MSN:
208-0042
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Montevideo to Buenos Aires, while cruising at night over the Río de la Plata, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to divert to La Plata Airport located in the Buenos Aires Province. On approach, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane impacted trees and crashed on a small road located about 5 km northeast of runway 20 threshold, bursting into flames. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the airplane was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Boituva: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 2022 at 1213 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-OQR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boituva - Boituva
MSN:
208-0219
YOM:
1992
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Boituva Aerodrome on a local skydiving mission, carrying 14 skydivers and one pilot. After takeoff, the pilot apparently encountered electrical problems and elected to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the aircraft collided with high tension wires, stalled and crashed inverted in a field. Two passengers were killed while all other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I on Mt Grüehorn: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 2022 at 1223 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-FLIC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Siegerland – Arezzo
MSN:
208-0274
YOM:
1998
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6700
Captain / Total hours on type:
1800.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Siegerland Airport at 1100LT on a ferry flight to Arezzo, Tuscany. En route, while overflying Switzerland, he encountered marginal weather conditions. While cruising in IMC conditions, the single engine airplane impacted the slope of a rocky and snow covered face located west of Mt Grüehorn, in the south part of the canton of St Gallen. The wreckage was found later in the afternoon at an altitude of 1,700 metres. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Lake Seul

Date & Time: Mar 8, 2022 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GIPR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sioux Lookout – Springpole Lake
MSN:
208-0343
YOM:
2001
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1315
Captain / Total hours on type:
126.00
Circumstances:
On 08 March 2022, the Bamaji Air Inc. (Bamaji) wheel-equipped Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft (registration C-GIPR, serial number 20800343) was conducting a series of visual flight rules (VFR) flights from Sioux Lookout Airport (CYXL), Ontario. At 1031, after checking the aerodrome forecast (TAF) valid from 0900 to 2000, and the graphic area forecast (GFA) valid from 0600 to 1800, the pilot departed on a flight to an ice runway on Springpole Lake, Ontario, about 78 nautical miles (NM) north-northwest of CYXL. The aircraft returned to CYXL with 2 passengers at 1200. In preparation for a second flight to Springpole Lake, the pilot loaded approximately 900 pounds of freight into the cabin and secured it under a cargo net. The aircraft had 750 pounds of fuel remaining on board, which was sufficient for the planned flight. The pilot and 1 passenger boarded the aircraft. The pilot occupied the left cockpit seat and the passenger occupied the right cockpit seat. Both occupants were wearing the available 5-point-harness safety belt system. At 1250, a snow squall began to move across CYXL, reducing ground visibility. The pilot taxied the aircraft to a position on the apron and waited for the fast-moving snow squall to pass. At 1301, the pilot taxied the aircraft to Runway 34 and took off in visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft climbed to approximately 1800 feet above sea level (ASL), then, once clear of the control zone, it descended to approximately 1600 to 1700 feet ASL, roughly 500 to 600 feet above ground level (AGL), to remain below the overcast ceiling. As the aircraft began to cross Lac Seul, Ontario, the visibility straight ahead and to the west was good. However, when the aircraft was roughly midway across the lake, it encountered turbulence and immediately became enveloped in whiteout conditions generated by a snow squall. The pilot turned his head to inspect the left wing and saw that ice appeared to be accumulating on the leading edge. He turned his attention back to the flight instruments and saw that the altimeter was descending rapidly. He then pulled back on the control column to stop the descent; however, within a few seconds, the aircraft struck the frozen surface of Lac Seul, approximately 17 NM north-northwest of CYXL. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire. The aircraft occupants received minor injuries. The Artex Model Me406 emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated on impact and the signal was detected by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ontario, re-tasked a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft that was in the area and 3 search and rescue technicians (SAR Techs) parachuted into the site within 1 hour of the accident. The aircraft occupants and the SAR Techs were extracted from the site by a civilian helicopter later that day.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred while the aircraft was crossing a large, frozen, snow-covered lake at low altitude. Other than some small islands and the distant treed shorelines, there were few features to provide visual references. The terrain, coupled with the snow squalls that were passing through the area generated circumstances conducive to the creation of localized whiteout conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Ilaga: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 2021 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-SNN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Timika - Ilaga
MSN:
208-0556
YOM:
2014
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ilaga Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The single engine airplane impacted ground near the runway 25 threshold, lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest on the runway. One of the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I off Norderney: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2021 at 1309 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-FLEC
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Borkum - Norderney
MSN:
208-0388
YOM:
2005
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Borkum Airport in the early afternoon on a local skydiving mission. At an altitude of 14,000 feet, the skydivers jumped out the cabin then the pilot reduced his altitude and returned to Norderney Airport. On approach, control was lost and the airplane crashed in the sea of Wadden, about 4 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Moo 2: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 2019 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1917
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Surasi - Surasi
MSN:
208-0267
YOM:
1997
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor aged 58 and one pilot under supervision aged 28) departed Surasi Air Base around 0900LT on a training flight. En route, in unknown circumstances, the single engine airplane crashed near Moo 2 (Sai Yok district). The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Gransee: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 2019 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-FIDI
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gransee - Gransee
MSN:
208-0301
YOM:
1999
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1553
Captain / Total hours on type:
288.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4066
Aircraft flight cycles:
4983
Circumstances:
At 1448 hrs, the pilot took off from Gransee Special Airfield with the Cessna 208 Caravan to a commercial flight in accordance with visual flight rules. On board were the pilot and 15 skydivers, which were dropped at flight level 130. On this day, the pilot had already conducted three flights dropping skydivers with a total flight time of 48 min. After having dropped the skydivers during the fourth flight, the airplane was last captured by the radar at 1505:49 hrs, during approach to land at the airfield, close to the accident site at about 550 ft AMSL. At the time, ground speed was 168 kt and heading 330°. The Flugleiter stated that he had observed the last phase of the approach. The airplane had been in a left-hand turn with a bank angle of up to 90° close to the ground. He assumed that the pilot might have “overshot” the extended centre line of runway 29 when he entered the final approach coming from the south. Then the airplane had vanished behind the trees. The pilot did not transmit an emergency call. The Flugleiter also stated that with the previous flight he had witnessed a similar manoeuvre. The radar recording of the third flight ended at 1417:54 hrs with a recorded altitude of about 1,400 ft AGL. At the time, ground speed was 168 kt and heading 355°. During both flights the skydivers had been dropped at flight level 130 at a heading of about 300° south of the airfield. After dropping the skydivers, at 1415:07 hrs and at 1502:52 hrs, respectively, the airplane entered a descent with a very high rate of descent and flew in a wide left-hand turn back to the airfield. During the third flight a right-left-hand turn with bank angles of about 50° to 60° occurred during descent.
Probable cause:
The air accident was due to a risky flight manoeuvre close to the ground which resulted in a controlled impact with the ground. The speed during the approach exceeded the operations limitations of the airplane. The approach was not stabilized.
Contributing Human Factors:
- Recurrent acceptance of risky flight manoeuvres close to the ground by the pilot (routine violations),
- Overconfidence and insufficient risk assessment of the pilot.
Contributing Operational Factors:
- Unsuitable wording in the operations manual in regard to approaches after dropping skydivers.
Final Report: