Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Quadra Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 2005 at 1916 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GAQW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Campbell River – Frances Bay – Knight’s Inlet – Frances Bay – Campbell River
MSN:
1353
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Campbell River on a night flight to Knight's Inlet with four passengers and one pilot on board. As it failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated by RCAF & RCMP but no trace of the airplane and its occupants was found. On 15 of July 2005, the wreckage was found at a depth of 260 metres of Quadra Island by the families of the victims. TSB did not proceed to any investigations for this occurrence.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Sitka: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 2004 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N712TS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sitka - Warm Spring Bay
MSN:
948
YOM:
1956
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2878
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
16155
Circumstances:
The commercial certificated pilot, with four passengers, departed for a remote lodge on an on-demand air taxi flight in an amphibious float-equipped airplane. The airplane was the second of two company airplanes to depart for the lodge. The route of flight would have transited around the north end, from the west side to the east side of a large island. The first company airplane completed the flight, but the accident airplane did not arrive at the lodge, and was reported overdue. Throughout the morning, before the accident flight, the pilot received two telephonic weather briefings from the local FAA flight service station, which included an AIRMET for mountain obscuration, and two pilot reports from the first pilot. In addition, the pilot visited the FSS for another weather briefing. The weather conditions along the route of flight had reported visibilities as low as 2 miles, and ceilings as low as 200 feet due to rain and mist, and wind of 35 to 40 knots. The area of the accident flight is characterized by steep mountainous island terrain, numerous ocean channels, and an extensive shoreline, containing small coves and bays. The area frequently has low ceilings and reduced visibility due to rain, fog, and mist. The island is one of several barrier islands between the north Pacific Ocean and mainland Alaska. The western coastal portion of the island is exposed to open ocean. The eastern coastal portion of the island is adjacent to a wide strait, which separates the island from several inner islands. The area of operations for the accident airplane has no low-level radar coverage, intermittent radio communications, and limited weather reporting capability. The company's operations manual states that aircraft may not be released for a flight at any location unless there is agreement about the parameters of the flight with the pilot-in-command, and any of the following: Director of operations; chief pilot; or trained individuals granted the authority by the director of operations. The airplane has been declared missing, and is presumed to have crashed; the occupants are presumed to have received fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
Reason for occurrence is undetermined. The airplane is missing.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Gatineau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 2004 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GJST
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gatineau - Gatineau
MSN:
1368
YOM:
1959
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1709
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
The pilot and sole occupant of the DHC-2 seaplane, registration C-GJST, serial number 1368, was on his first flight of the season on the Ottawa River at Gatineau, Quebec. This training flight, conducted according to visual flight rules, was to consist of about 12 touch-and-go landings. The aircraft took off at approximately 1300 eastern daylight time, and made several upwind touch-and-go landings in a westerly direction. At approximately 1340 eastern daylight time, the aircraft was seen about 50 feet above the surface of the water proceeding downwind in an easterly
direction, in a nose-down attitude of over 20 degrees. The right float then struck the water and the aircraft tumbled several times, breaking up on impact. Despite the waves and gusting wind on the river, some riverside residents who witnessed the accident attempted a rescue, but the aircraft sank before they could reach it. Even though the pilot was wearing a seat-belt, he sustained head injuries at impact and drowned.
Probable cause:
Finding as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. The aircraft struck the water for undetermined reasons.
Findings as to Risk:
1. The certificate of airworthiness was not in effect at the time of the accident because of the airworthiness directives that had not been completed.
2. The distress signal emitted by the fixed, automatic emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was not received because of the reduced range of the signal once the ELT was submerged, which could have increased the response time of search and rescue units if there had been no witnesses to the accident.
3. The pilot had not made a training flight with an instructor for more than 19 months, which could have resulted in a degradation of his skills and decision-making process.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Fawcett Lake: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 2004 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GQHT
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pickeral Arm Camp - Fawcett Lake
MSN:
682
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1688
Captain / Total hours on type:
344.00
Circumstances:
Pickerel Arm Camps is located about 22 km south of Sioux Lookout, Ontario. It operates a main campsite at its water base and several remote fishing lodges. The company operates two float equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver aircraft to fly guests and supplies to their remote sites. Seven guests of the company arrived at the water base on 18 May 2004, the day before their scheduled four-day fishing trip at Fawcett Lake, one of the remote lodges. Because the remote lodge was available, a decision was made to fly in that afternoon. The group was divided in two, and a group of three guests and all the supplies for the seven guests were to go in the first aircraft. The second group of four, with their personal baggage, was to follow in the company’s other Beaver. The occurrence aircraft, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (C-GQHT, serial number 682) with one pilot and three camp guests on board, departed the company water base at approximately 1700 eastern daylight time on a day visual flight rules flight to Fawcett Lake. At approximately 1930, the pilot and the other four guests arrived in the second aircraft to discover that the first group had not arrived. The guests later found the accident aircraft overturned in the lake. Ontario Provincial Police divers recovered the bodies of the pilot and the three passengers. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. There was no fire.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. The pilot flew a high-drag approach configuration for which his proficiency was not established.
2. The pilot most likely allowed the airspeed to decrease to the point that the aircraft stalled on approach at an altitude at which recovery was unlikely.
3. The impact was non-survivable because of the high impact forces.
Findings as to Risk:
1. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) airframe antenna was broken off above the fuselage; however, the flight was within the 30-day period allowed by regulation for flight with an unserviceable ELT.
2. The pilot did not secure the cargo prior to flight, which allowed the cargo to shift forward on impact.
3. The weight and centre of gravity (C of G) were not indicated in the operational flight plan and load record, and the aircraft’s weight and C of G could only be estimated.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Viekoda Bay

Date & Time: Nov 29, 2003 at 0935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N13VF
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kodiak – Viekoda Bay
MSN:
1613
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7103
Captain / Total hours on type:
3100.00
Aircraft flight hours:
14953
Circumstances:
During an on-demand air taxi flight, the airline transport certificated pilot was preparing to land an amphibious float-equipped airplane near a cabin that was located on the shore of a coastal bay. A 10 to 15 knot wind was blowing from the bay toward the land, and the pilot decided to approach over land. As the airplane descended over a small creek bed, adjacent to a hill, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and descended rapidly. The left wing collided with alder trees which spun the airplane 180 degrees. The right wing and float assembly were torn off the airplane. The closest official weather observation station, located 30 miles away, was reporting calm wind.
Probable cause:
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance, which resulted in a collision with terrain during the final landing approach. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of a downdraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Penticton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 2003 at 1427 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GHAF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nanaimo - Penticton - Calgary
MSN:
1408
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
915
Captain / Total hours on type:
615.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9029
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Nanaimo, British Columbia, and landed at Penticton Airport at 1232 Pacific daylight time (PDT). The aircraft was fueled with 184 litres of fuel, filling all three belly tanks. At this time, the rear portion of the aircraft cabin was observed to be loaded with luggage and cargo. The pilot/aircraft owner was planning his flight to Calgary (Springbank), Alberta, and spent at least an hour flight planning and talking with the Kamloops Flight Information Centre by telephone. He had some difficulty determining a route to fly to Springbank, because of airspace restrictions due to forest fires, but decided on a routing of Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Revelstoke, and Springbank. The aircraft took off from Penticton Airport at 1420 PDT, with the pilot and two passengers on board and crashed approximately seven minutes later in a ravine of Penticton Creek, 11 nautical miles northeast of Penticton Airport. A post-impact fire broke out and consumed most of the fuselage area. The fire caused a small forest fire, seen by a firefighting aircraft crew. There were no radio calls from the occurrence aircraft, and the three occupants were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. As the aircraft approached high terrain in a climb, the pilot, for undetermined reasons, did not turn away from the terrain; the aircraft struck tree tops and crashed.
2. The aircraft’s climb performance was adversely affected by density altitude and the relatively high aircraft weight, so that the aircraft was unable to clear the high terrain ahead.
Findings as to Risk:
1. The licensed passenger had not informed the TC medical examiner who conducted her last medical that she had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, posing the risk that she could pilot an aircraft while not medically fit to do so.
2. The aircraft was being operated at a higher weight than was justified by the STC, under which it was converted to an amphibian. Some of the structural modifications called for by the STC for the higher weight had not been carried out.
Other Findings:
1. It could not be determined who was piloting the aircraft on the occurrence flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Sully Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 2003 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GUXW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pelican Narrows - Sully Lake
MSN:
611
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Pelican Narrows with two passengers and one pilot on board. While approaching Sully Lake, the engine lost power. The aircraft lost height and crashed in Sully Lake. Both passengers exited the cabin and were seriously injured while the pilot was killed. They spent a night on the shore and were rescued and evacuated to hospital a day later.
Probable cause:
A cracked cylinder resulted in a loss of engine power and the pilot attempted a force landing on a small lake. The altitude at which the event began may have given the pilot very little time to successfully complete a forced landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Anchorage

Date & Time: Jun 6, 2003 at 1705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N343WB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Beluga - Anchorage
MSN:
999
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6860
Captain / Total hours on type:
1711.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5698
Circumstances:
The float-equipped airplane was in the traffic pattern to land at a seaplane base when the engine lost all power, and the pilot made an emergency landing in the backyard of a private residence. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees and a railing on the deck of the residence, sustaining structural damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that he had the right wing fuel tank selected, and thought the tank was about 1/4 full. He indicated that when the engine lost power, he was too low and didn't have sufficient time or altitude to switch to the belly tank and restore power. Postaccident draining of the fuel tanks disclosed about 18 gallons of fuel in the belly tank, and about one quart in the right wing tank.
Probable cause:
The pilot's incorrect positioning of the fuel tank selector to a nearly empty tank, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and subsequent emergency landing at an off airport site.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Sitka

Date & Time: May 30, 2003 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N60TF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sitka - Salmon Lake
MSN:
1205
YOM:
1958
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3720
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6060
Circumstances:
The airline transport certificated pilot departed from a paved runway for a short flight to a remote lake in an amphibious float-equipped airplane to deliver supplies to a client. The pilot reported that he was transporting several loads of equipment to the lake, and failed to visually check the gear position while looking for a new unloading area. He also indicated that he was distracted when he had to reset the flaps, and by a minor malfunction with the airplane's GPS receiver. He said he forgot to raise the landing gear wheels, and landed on the lake with the wheels extended. During the landing touchdown on the lake, the airplane nosed over and received damage to the left wing and fuselage. The airplane is equipped with floats that have landing gear position lights installed on the instrument panel. The airplane also has a mirror enabling the pilot to visually observe the landing gear position.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear wheels of an amphibious float equipped airplane after departure from a paved runway, which resulted in a nose over when the airplane was landed on a nearby lake with the wheels extended. A contributing factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention during the short flight from the airport to the lake.
Final Report: