De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

XY-AEB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

501

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity and heavy rain falls. While cruising in clouds, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain near Mindat. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Hooper Bay

Date & Time: May 16, 1982 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N103AQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Bethel - Chevak - Scammon Bay - Hooper Bay

MSN:

183

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

GFF517

Location:

Hooper Bay

Alaska

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4550

Captain / Total hours on type:

1990.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1850

Copilot / Total hours on type:

300

Aircraft flight hours:

15267

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Hooper Bay, Alaska. The airplane crashed 1,320 feet short of the threshold of runway 13 during an approach in visual meteorological conditions. The airplane was substantially damaged when it crashed onto hard-packed snow and ice about 700 feet from the edge of the Bering Sea. There was no fire. The two pilots and six passengers sustained serious injuries in the accident.

Probable cause:

The National Transportation Safety Beard determines that the probable cause of this accident was the flightcrew's failure to compute and properly interpret the airplane's weight and balance and their operation of the airplane with the center of gravity substantially aft of its authorized limit which resulted in loss of control of the airplane during a landing attempt.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near the North Pole

Date & Time: May 9, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

C-GKBO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

547

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing on an icy area located near the North Pole, one of the ski went through the ice and the airplane came to rest. All nine occupants, among them seven tourists, evacuated the cabin safely. The aircraft later sank and was lost.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Gamvik: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1982 at 1327 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LN-BNK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Kirkenes – Vadsø – Vardø – Båtsfjord – Berlevåg – Mehamn – Honningsvåg – Alta

MSN:

568

YOM:

1977

Flight number:

WF933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8474

Captain / Total hours on type:

5011.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1830

Copilot / Total hours on type:

918

Aircraft flight hours:

9925

Aircraft flight cycles:

20953

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Kirkenes on a regular schedule service (flight WF933) to Alta with intermediate stops in Vadsø, Vardø, Båtsfjord, Berlevåg, Mehamn and Honningsvåg. The aircraft departed Berlevåg Airport at 1319LT and the crew reported to Mehamn Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) at 1322 that he was at an altitude of 2,000 feet over the Tanafjord with an ETA in Mehamn at 1333LT. Mehamn AFIS called flight 933 at 1335 but did not receive any answer. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Mehamn, SAR operations were initiated. The wreckage was located two days later in the Tanafjord mouth, at a depth of 40 meters, about 6 km southeast of Gamvik. All 15 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control in-flight after the vertical stabilizer failed due to the combination of altitude turbulences, strong winds, unfavorable atmospheric currents and inappropriate reaction on part of the flying crew.

The accident occurred during a NATO military exercise, within a self-declared no-fly zone for allied military aircraft. A report in 1987 that radar had observed an unidentified aircraft which was on a collision course with the Twin Otter caused a second investigation to be started. It was concluded that the existence of other aircraft in the area could be ruled out; and that no other airborne objects could have caused the accident. The debate about the accident resurfaced in 1997 when several sources claimed there was new or overlooked evidence of the involvement of NATO aircraft. The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) decided in 1997 to investigate the new claims and concluded that there was no evidence to support these claims. The accident was ordered investigated again in November 2002 after a retired Norwegian air traffic controller said one of the Harrier pilots, involved in a mission about the time of the accident, had requested an immediate landing because of technical problems. The report was published on 20 September 2005. It fully supported the findings of all three previous reports and found no evidence for an impact with a Harrier or any other aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Providence: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1982 at 1533 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N127PM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Groton - Boston

MSN:

105

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

PM458

Location:

Providence

Rhode Island

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6500

Captain / Total hours on type:

2700.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2100

Copilot / Total hours on type:

400

Aircraft flight hours:

27015

Circumstances:

At 4,000 feet light icing on the windshield was noted, and the deicing system was activated. After two cycles of deicing, alcohol was smelled in the cockpit, and smoke was coming up from the control yoke. An emergency landing was attempted at Providence, RI, but smoke and flames forced the crew to land on 10-12 inch thick ice on a reservoir. By then, heavy black smoke poured in the cockpit and fire was seen. Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed and the right wing was sheared off. Eleven occupants escaped and were injured while a passenger was killed.

Probable cause:

The deficient design of the isopropyl alcohol windshield washer/deicer system and the inadequate maintenance of the system which resulted in an in-flight fire. The ignition source of the fire was not determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in San Antero: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1981 at 1306 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2216

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Medellín – Coveñas

MSN:

609

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Coveñas Airport on a flight from Medellín, the twin engine airplane struck a hill and crashed near San Antero, about 7 km southwest of runway 06 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TJ-CBC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Bafoussam – Douala

MSN:

416

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Bafoussam-Bamougoum Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled and crash landed, overran and came to rest 43 meters past the runway end. A passenger was killed while all other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the aircraft was overloaded at the time of the accident. It was also reported that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to procedures and failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Coclecito: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1981 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAP-205

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Río Hato – Penonomé – Coclecito

MSN:

284

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Río Hato Airport at 1044LT and landed at Penonomé at 1055LT. Following a stop of 45 minutes, the airplane took off bound to the north to Coclecito. While cruising at an altitude of 3,400 feet in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. All seven occupants were killed, among them General Omar Efraín Torrijos, President of the Republic of Panama.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain while flying in low clouds and foggy conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Maroantsetra: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1981

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

5R-MGB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: