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

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1996 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N64276
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ketchikan - Rowena Lake
MSN:
1025
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
17000
Captain / Total hours on type:
8500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
12475
Circumstances:
The pilot and two passengers departed for a remote area on an on-demand charter flight in a float-equipped airplane. An emergency locator transmitter signal was heard in the area of the intended destination about 55 minutes after departure. The flight was reported overdue and search personnel located the wreckage at an elevation of about 2,850 feet in mountainous terrain about 2 and 1/2 hours after departure. The airplane collided with terrain below the top of a steep ridge. Search personnel reported the weather conditions in the area included low ceilings. The conditions deteriorated during subsequent rescue operations. The area forecast included an AIRMET for marginal VFR conditions with mountain obscuration due to clouds and precipitation.
Probable cause:
Continued flight by the pilot into adverse weather condition, and his failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from mountainous terrain. Factors related to the accident were the high/mountainous terrain, and weather conditions that included low ceilings.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FFHF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ugly Lake - Goose Bay
MSN:
19
YOM:
1949
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
894
Circumstances:
The pilot of C-FFHF, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, departed the company camp at Ugly Lake, Labrador, en route to Goose Bay. Prior to arriving at Goose Bay, the pilot contacted an overflying Air Labrador flight and advised them that he had landed on a pond and that he needed the SAR (search and rescue) time extended on his flight plan. The pilot also said that he would be departing the pond shortly, en route to Goose Bay. When C-FFHF did not arrive at the destination by the SAR time of 2030 Atlantic daylight saving time (ADT), a search was commenced. Seven days later, an oil slick and a paddle with the company name on it were identified on a pond about 66 nautical miles (nm) north of Goose Bay. Divers located the aircraft wreckage in 120 feet of water. The aircraft was destroyed and the bodies of the pilot and passenger were located inside the wreckage.
Probable cause:
It is probable that the pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the surface sometime after take-off from the pond. The aircraft struck the water either during the pilot's attempt to regain visual reference or because the pilot lost control of the aircraft in reduced visibility.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Lake Brooks

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1996 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N67207
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lake Brooks - King Salmon
MSN:
305
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10869
Circumstances:
The pilot and three passengers were departing a remote lake in a float equipped airplane. The pilot positioned the hydraulic actuated flaps to 20 degrees. After takeoff, about 150 ft above the water, the pilot positioned the flap lever to the 'UP' position in preparation of pumping the flaps up, but said he did not move the pump handle. Turbulence was present during the takeoff, and during a left turn, the pilot encountered a severe gust at the time he positioned the flap lever. The airplane stalled in a left turn that steepened to almost a 90 degree bank. The airplane descended and the left wing contacted the surface of the lake. The left wing was torn off the fuselage, and the floats were crushed upward. Both flaps are activated by a common torque tube connected to a double-acting flap actuating cylinder. At the accident scene, the right wing flap and right aileron were observed to be extended to an intermediate position. The weather conditions included 20 kts of wind, turbulence, and rain. The pilot expressed a concern that the flaps may have retracted without being pumped to the up position. An examination of the flap system and the ratchet valve assembly was conducted after the airplane was recovered and the wings were removed. Leakage of hydraulic fluid and air was observed through the ratchet valve. Additional testing of the ratchet valve at an overhaul facility did not reveal any leakage.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain (water). Turbulence was a related factor.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1996 at 2024 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FIBP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Watson Lake - Desolation Lake
MSN:
787
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a positioning flight from Watson Lake to Desolation Lake. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the single engine aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located in hilly terrain, about 114 km southwest from Watson Lake. The wreckage was found a day later and the pilot was killed.

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

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1996 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N54LA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Hoonah – Elfin Cove – Juneau
MSN:
724
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2999
Captain / Total hours on type:
616.00
Aircraft flight hours:
11047
Circumstances:
The pilot of the air taxi cargo flight departed his base of operations in Juneau, Alaska for a series of flights in southeast Alaska that would ultimately return him to Juneau. On the accident leg of the intended round robin, the pilot was en route from Hoonah to Elfin Cove. The flight would originate and end at sea level, and traverse a mountain pass, with minimum obstruction clearance in the pass estimated at 500 feet msl. The airplane collided with steeply rising terrain at the 1,250-foot level about one mile south of the proposed flight path. The airplane was partially consumed by a post impact fire. The operator initiated a helicopter search within two hours of the time of the accident. The helicopter pilot and his passenger both reported that the area where the accident airplane was eventually located was obscured in low clouds, and that many of the other valleys and mountain sides were covered in clouds. Low clouds persisted in the area of the crash site for the following two days.
Probable cause:
The pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain adequate clearance from rising terrain. Factors associated with the accident were the rising terrain and clouds.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Turbo Beaver III in La Ronge

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1995 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FOEF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1605
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at La Ronge, the single engine aircraft was stolen by a drunk 'pilot' who was able to run the engine but attempted to take off with controls locked. At a speed of about 60 knots, the aircraft struck obstacles and crashed on a hill. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Crashed after being stolen by an intoxicated 'pilot'.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Captain Cove: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1995 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FJAA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Campbell River – Prince Rupert
MSN:
961
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was on a delivery flight from Campbell River to the seaplane base of Seal Cove in Prince Rupert. En route, in unclear circumstances, the aircraft crashed near Captain Cove, about 50 km southeast of Prince Rupert. Both passengers Mark Jonathan Cholomondeley and Ferlie Bating were killed while the pilot Spike Nasmyth survived.

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

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1995 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N1348
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kukaklek Lake - Port Alsworth
MSN:
1348
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
18300
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9499
Circumstances:
The certificated airline transport pilot of N1348 and 3 passengers were northwest bound at 200 feet over a remote river. The business flight was en route to a fishing lodge after picking up lodge clients from a remote lake. The certificated commercial pilot and sole occupant of N7832H was southbound at 200 feet over the same area of the river. Witnesses observed the two airplanes collide and descend into the river. The witnesses did not observe either airplane take evasive action. The weather conditions were reported as scattered clouds at 3,500 feet and a visibility of 25 miles.
Probable cause:
The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate visual lookout.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Pine Lake: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1995 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FGBC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tukanee Lake – Pine Lake – White River – Wawa
MSN:
199
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Pine Lake, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Yea

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1995 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-IDB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yea - Yea
MSN:
883
YOM:
1956
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1468
Captain / Total hours on type:
244.00
Circumstances:
The pilot reported that the flight departed from an agricultural strip located in a valley surrounded by hills. The aircraft carried a full load of superphosphate to be spread on a property approximately one mile from the strip. The pilot had previously surveyed the property and the flight path. He had selected a route that took him up through a valley between hills and then over a low ridge to the property. After take off the pilot set climb power and selected climb flap in order to follow his predetermined route to the property. The pilot advised that as the aircraft flew towards the low ridge it appeared to be descending rather than climbing. He elected to carryout a partial dump and to apply extra flap to clear a clump of trees. The speed deteriorated to 60 knots from the initial climb speed of 70 knots. The pilot did not increase power. Some 300 metres later another partial dump was carried out to clear another tree. As that tree was cleared the pilot again initiated a partial dump and turned to the right in an endeavour to escape from a rapidly deteriorating situation. Immediately the turn was initiated the right wing dropped and the aircraft stalled, impacting the ground onto the right wing and cartwheeled to a stop some 50 metres from the initial impact. The company chief pilot examined the accident site and advised that the flight path through the valley was in a classic false horizon situation whereby the surrounding hills caused the pilot to consider that the flight path was over flat terrain whilst in reality the terrain was rising approximately 5 degrees up to the ridge. The chief pilot also advised that the aircraft would not have been able to outclimb the terrain at high gross weight with only cruise power set.
Probable cause:
Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any pre-impact factors that may have contributed to the accident. Weather and pilot workload were not considered to be factors in this accident.
The pilot had flown approximately 1200 hours on agricultural operations and 244 hours on the type. His loss of situational awareness could be due in part to his relatively low experience.
The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:
- At high weight, and with climb power applied, the pilot flew the aircraft on an inappropriate flight path into rising terrain.
- The pilot did not take appropriate remedial actions when the aircraft could not outclimb the terrain and the aircraft speed deteriorated.
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft while attempting a turn at low speed.
Final Report: