Country
Canada

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Mulia: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1985
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
PK-NUG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
346
YOM:
1972
Location:
Mulia
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Mulia Airport for unknown reasons. Eight occupants were killed while 11 others were injured.

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

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1985 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N540N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Prudhoe Bay – Kaktovik
MSN:
401
YOM:
1973
Location:
Kaktovik (Barter Island)
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5311
Captain / Total hours on type:
2098.00
Aircraft flight hours:
13652
Circumstances:
Aircraft crashed during missed approach to temporary winter landing strip. Aircraft hit in steep nose down attitude. Marginal weather conditions prevailed, with icing reported. All four occupants were injured, both pilots seriously.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: go-around (vfr)
Findings
1. (f) terrain condition - snow covered
2. (c) flight manuals - not followed - pilot in command
3. (f) overconfidence in aircraft's ability - pilot in command
4. (f) inadequate surveillance of operation - company/operator mgmt
5. (f) weather condition - fog
6. (f) weather evaluation - inaccurate - pilot in command
7. (f) company-induced pressure - company/operator management
8. (f) inadequate surveillance of operation - faa (organization)
9. (f) light condition - dark night
10. (f) in-flight planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
11. (f) expectancy - other person
12. (f) insuff standards/requirements, operation/operator - company/operator mgmt
13. (f) light condition - dark night
14. (f) weather evaluation - inaccurate - pilot in command
15. (f) fatigue (flight and ground schedule) - pilot in command
16. (c) weather condition - icing conditions
17. (f) flight into known adverse weather - intentional - pilot in command
18. Fatigue (flight and ground schedule) - copilot/second pilot
19. (f) wing - ice
20. (f) anti-ice/deice system - not used - pilot in command
21. (c) altitude - inadequate - pilot in command
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 on Mt El Plateado: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1985 at 1035 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1910
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quibdó – Medellín
MSN:
497
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
VX052
Location:
Mt El Plateado
Chocó
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
En route from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with mist and intermittent rain falls. While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt El Plateado located in the northeast part of the Chocó province, about 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

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

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1985
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
YA-GAY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kabul - Bamyan
MSN:
332
YOM:
1971
Location:
Bamyan
Bamyan
Country:
Afghanistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bamyan Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few hundred meters short of runway. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 20 occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Bhojpur: 15 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1984
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ABH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Bhojpur
MSN:
376
YOM:
1973
Location:
Bhojpur
Kosi
Country:
Nepal
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While descending to Bhojpur in marginal weather conditions, the Twin Otter struck the slope of a mountain located few km from the airport. All three crew members and 12 passengers were killed while eight others were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the MDA.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Karege: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1984 at 1851 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
5H-MRD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dar es Salaam - Dar es Salaam
MSN:
581
YOM:
1978
Location:
Karege
Pwani Region
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
5295
Captain / Total hours on type:
446.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
296
Copilot / Total hours on type:
16
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor and two pilots) departed Dar es Salaam Intl Airport on a local training flight. In the early evening, while returning to the airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found near Karege, about 35 km northwest of Dar es Salaam Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed. The instructor totalized 5,295 flying hours with 446 on type. Both other pilots totalized 300 flying hours with 20 on type and 296 flying hours with 16 on type.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the loss of control occurred when the power lever of the left engine was in idle position while the reverser on the left engine was activated at the same time. Thus, investigators does not rule out the assumption that the pilot attempted to commit suicide. Also, the assumption that the crew lost control of the airplane following a sudden and violent fire on the right engine was also not ruled out.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Bagua: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1984 at 1357 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
FAP307
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iquitos – Bagua – Piura
MSN:
317
YOM:
1971
Location:
Bagua
Amazonas
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bagua-El Valor Airport, while climbing, the aircraft exploded and crashed. All 21 occupants were killed. The aircraft was completing a special flight from Iquitos to Piura with an intermediate stop in Bagua on behalf of PetroPeru.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Loja: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1984
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
FAE446
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Loja - Zumba
MSN:
446
YOM:
1975
Location:
Loja
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Loja Airport, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. All 14 occupants were killed. The aircraft had a dual registration: civil HC-BCG and military FAE446.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Goose Bay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1984 at 1737 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-FAUS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint Anthony - Goose Bay
MSN:
34
YOM:
1967
Location:
Goose Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
17585
Circumstances:
The Twin Otter departed Goose Bay on a medical evacuation flight to St. Anthony. The flight was uneventful and landed in St. Anthony at 15:24. At 16:02, the aircraft departed St. Anthony on a VFR flight back to Goose Bay. On board were the two pilots and the doctor and nurse. Approaching the Goose Bay Airport, weather became marginal, but the crew continued visual flight. The crew likely encountered near zero forward visibility in snow showers and fog; it is probable that they were able to maintain vertical contact with the ground and were confident they could continue flight with visual reference to the ground. The crew may not have been able to see terrain ahead and therefore may not have been able to determine if the aircraft would clear the hills, particularly, when steep hills were encountered. The plane struck a rock outcropping 100 feet below the summit of a 2,050-foot mountain. After bouncing twice, the Twin Otter had come to rest in a small, wooded gully, approximately 350 feet from the initial point of impact.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the flight was attempted in mountainous terrain in marginal weather conditions. The aircraft was flown at an altitude which did not provide terrain clearance, and the aircraft struck a mountain for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Fort Franklin: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1984 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Nahanni Air Services
Registration:
C-FPPL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Norman - Fort Franklin
MSN:
115
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
NAS097
Location:
Fort Franklin
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
23645
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Fort Norman at 16:51 and arrived overhead Fort Franklin at approximately 17:15. Because Fort Franklin was shrouded in fog, a local resident contacted the pilot on a portable VHF transceiver and advised him that there was little or no visibility. The pilot replied that he did not think he would be able to land. The resident drove to the airstrip and contacted the pilot again when he heard the aircraft returning. He advised the pilot that visibility was 200-300 feet. The pilot then asked if this was the vertical or horizontal visibility. At that moment the Twin Otter struck a 200-foot-high telecommunications tower while in controlled level fight. Part of the right wing broke off and the aircraft slowly rolled over before striking the ground. The decision of the pilot to continue the approach in foggy weather were possibly influenced by the effects of stress and a greater than usual personal need to complete the flight. The stress was probably caused by the fact that the pilot had been involved in four accidents since March 1984. Although he was a very experienced pilot, his previous employer terminated his employment on 31 August 1984. In their opinion, his ability to make operational decisions was in question. The pilot was hired by Nahanni Air Services one month later.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The weather at Fort Franklin was unsuitable for the flight,
- The flight was continued into weather below that which is required for VFR flight,
- An approach to the aerodrome was attempted using the radar altimeter to provide terrain clearance,
- The pilot descended to an altitude below the height of the telecommunications tower,
- A lack of official weather observations and of communications facilities at Fort Franklin deprived the pilot of reliable local weather information on which to base his decisions,
- There exists in the more remote areas of Canada a different attitude with regard to the assessment of risk in flight operations; it is likely that this attitude influenced the decisions and actions of the pilot,
- The operational decisions of the pilot may have been influenced by the effects of stress and a greater than usual personal need to complete the flight,
- Company management may have had a better appreciation of the risk potential associated with the recent events in the pilot's life, if they had more awareness of the effects of stress on performance.
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