De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Executive/Corporate/Business

Operator:

Registration:

EP-IOD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

460

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located in the south part of Iran.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Honningsvåg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1990 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

67-063

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1967

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Honningsvåg-Valan in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft started to pitch up and down then stalled. The crew increased power and the aircraft was able to gain a little height when it stalled a second time and crashed 150 meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew completed the approach at a too low airspeed according to the wind component and force. At the time of the accident, atmospheric turbulences and relative strong winds were present in the approach path and the crew failed to adapt his speed according to these phenomenons. The relative low experience of the crew was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Chitembo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HB-LOI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Humanitarian

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

336

YOM:

1971

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a special flight on behalf of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), carrying 20 passengers and two crew members. During the takeoff roll, the crew encountered directional problems and the aircraft deviated to the right of the runway. The crew was able to takeoff when shortly after liftoff, the right wing struck a mast. The airplane nosed down, struck the ground, lost its nose gear and came to rest in a potatoes field. All 22 occupants were evacuated, among them four passengers suffered minor injuries. One people on the ground was killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed the crew encountered problems with the ailerons and the nosewheel steering system due to hydraulic issues.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Thistle Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1990 at 1915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Ptarmigan Airways

Registration:

C-FWAB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

349

YOM:

1973

Location:

Thistle Lake

Northwest Territories

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew just departed Thistle Lake after delivering cargo for local mine workers. Just after liftoff, while climbing to a height of about 10 feet, the aircraft banked right and struck the rotor of a parked Bell 206. Out of control, it crashed few dozen meters further, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The reason of the loss of control could not be determined.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 off Contadora Island: 20 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N187SA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Panama City – Contadora – San Miguel

MSN:

131

YOM:

1968

Location:

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After takeoff from Contadora Island Airport, while climbing, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Some birds struck the right engine that failed. The aircraft lost speed then rolled to the right and crashed in the sea some 1,500 meters offshore. Two passengers were rescued while 20 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine and subsequent loss of control during initial climb following a bird strike.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Værøy: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1990 at 1444 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LN-BNS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Værøy – Bodø

MSN:

536

YOM:

1977

Flight number:

WF839

Location:

Værøy (Lofoten Islands)

Nordland

Country:

Norway

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Captain / Total flying hours:

5534

Captain / Total hours on type:

1269.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1370

Copilot / Total hours on type:

354

Aircraft flight hours:

27304

Aircraft flight cycles:

58709

Circumstances:

Less than two minutes after takeoff from Værøy Airport runway 25, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft banked left then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea in a near vertical attitude about 1,8 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. When the crew started to roll at the airport, the wind was gusting to 57 knots which was 7 knots above the maximum allowable limit for ground operations. After takeoff, the aircraft encountered wind gusting to 34 knots which was 14 knots above the maximum allowable limit for flight operations. Excessive wind component caused the stabilizers/elevator to fail, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent and to crash in the sea.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was that the plane during departure came into the wind that exceeded the aircraft's design criteria. Thus there was a break in the horizontal stabilizer / elevator which meant that the plane could no longer be controlled.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off Utila

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

HR-ALH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

La Ceiba – Útila

MSN:

180

YOM:

1968

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Útila Airport runway 25, the crew was blinded by the low sun position and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. The aircraft struck the water surface and crashed in the sea about 50 meters offshore and less than 300 meters short of runway 25 threshold. All 20 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Labuan Bajo

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1990

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PK-NUQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Labuan Bajo – Denpasar

MSN:

488

YOM:

1976

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Region:

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After liftoff from Labuan Bajo-Mutiara Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine oversped. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft struck rocks then crashed in a ravine. All 17 occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during initial climb after the left engine oversped for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Al Gora

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1989

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

786/F-RAVV

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site: