Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 near Timika: 17 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 2005 at 1058 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PK-LTZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Timika – Enarotali
MSN:
23
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Timika-Moses Kilangin Airport at 1050LT on a 27-minutes flight to Enarotali, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of three. Some eight minutes into the flight, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft impacted hilly terrain. The wreckage was found two days later. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 17 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with low ceiling and rain falls.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: Feb 22, 2005 at 1343 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2-MFQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tabubil - Bimin
MSN:
174
YOM:
1968
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Bimin-Wobagen Airport runway 30, the twin engine aircraft lost height and crashed in a wooded area. Both pilots (New Zealand citizens) were killed instantly and all 11 other occupants were injured, some seriously. They walk away to the village to find help and receive care. The aircraft has a single 11/29 grass/dirt runway located at an altitude of 1,767 metres and offer a 10° slope. Runway 29 is for landing only and runway 11 for takeoff only.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Ononge: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 2004 at 1030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2-MBA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Ononge
MSN:
353
YOM:
1973
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While descending to Ononge, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to divert to the Yongai Airfield located about 27 km northeast of Ononge. Few minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 2,286 metres in clouds, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain. Rescuers arrived on scene a day later. The loadmaster was seriously injured while both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Mile 222 (Canol Road)

Date & Time: Jul 4, 2004 at 1730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMOL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mile 222 - Mile 170
MSN:
303
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The North-Wright Airways Ltd. DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration C-FMOL, was departing from an approximately 1,500 foot long gravel strip at Mile 222 of the Canol Road (near the Tsichu River), Canada. The takeoff was initiated to the north and into wind. Immediately after becoming airborne, the aircraft encountered a strong right cross-wind and settled back onto the strip. The left wheel contacted willows that had overgrown the edge of the strip. The aircraft veered left into the willows at about 60 knots, and began to decelerate. Prior to flying speed being regained, the aircraft rolled off the end of the strip and come to rest in a shallow creek. The right wing partially separated from the fuselage at impact and the forward fuselage, nose gear and right main gear sustained substantial damage. The pilot and first officer were uninjured. The purpose of the trip was to move hunting gear and outfitter supplies back to an airstrip at Mile 170 of the Canol Road (Godlin Lake). The aircraft was at or near gross weight at the time of the occurrence.

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

Date & Time: May 25, 2004 at 1356 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9N-AFD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Lukla
MSN:
651
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
YET117
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Lukla Airport from the south following a cargo flight from Kathmandu, the crew encountered poor visibility due to clouds when, at an altitude of 11,600 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near the Lamjura Pass, in the Solukhumbu district. The wreckage was found west of the airport and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. The following factors were identified:
- Hazardous behaviour and attitudes of the captain such as overconfidence,
- The crew failed to comply with the approach routes, following a direct track,
- The crew failed to follow SOP's,
- The operator's policy for flying in adverse weather were incomplete and not up to date,
- Lack of communication by the operator,
- The operator was unable to perform internal investigations and execute corrective actions when required.

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

Date & Time: Jan 19, 2004
Operator:
Registration:
PK-WAX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wamena – Mulia
MSN:
255
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mulia Airport, during the last segment, the aircraft was caught by downdrafts and lost height, causing the nose gear to land first. The aircraft went out of control, ground looped and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot, sole on board, escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Sturt Island

Date & Time: Jan 5, 2004
Operator:
Registration:
P2-KSG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
509
YOM:
1976
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from a grassy runway (780 metres long), the pilot noted standing water on the ground. He attempted to take off prematurely to avoid these puddles but the aircraft stalled and crash landed. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Jun 5, 2003 at 1800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GOGC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
750
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
22000
Captain / Total hours on type:
8500.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft with a single pilot on board was performing firefighting operations in the vicinity of Lake Wicksteed, approximately 10 nautical miles north of Hornepayne, Ontario. The aircraft was scooping water from Lake Wicksteed for the nearby fire. The lake is approximately 7300 feet in length with gentle rising terrain along its shoreline. This was the third scooping from the lake, and the approach was flown in an easterly direction in light wind conditions. The pilot performed the inbound checks, lowered the water probes to begin filling the float water tanks, and touched down on the lake. Within a short time, he observed water spraying from the overflow vents located on top of the floats, indicating that the tanks were filled to capacity. He pressed a button on the yoke to retract the probes, and the aircraft immediately nosed over into the lake in a wings-level attitude and began to sink. The accident occurred at approximately 1800 eastern daylight time. The pilot extricated himself from the aircraft and held on to the side of the partially submerged aircraft. A witness to the occurrence immediately boarded a powered, aluminum boat and went to assist the pilot, while a second witness travelled to Hornepayne to notify the authorities and emergency services. Once the pilot reached the shore, he was taken to a nearby cottage where he remained until emergency services arrived. The aircraft came to rest on the bottom of the shallow lake in an inverted attitude with the floats above the surface of the water.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. Ministry of Natural Resources DHC-6 SOPs were not followed, and the Vital Action checklist was not fully completed during the approach. As a result, the bomb door armed switch on the centre panel was not selected Off after the previous water bombing run and prior to the scooping operation.
2. After completing the water scooping operation, the pilot unintentionally selected the bomb door push button switch instead of the adjacent probe switch. Because the bomb door armed switch on the centre panel was left On, the bomb doors extended into the water. Drag from the doors and the water rushing into the door openings resulted in the aircraft nosing over in the water.
3. The hinged cover plate for the bomb door push button switch was not re-installed following maintenance to replace the push button switch. The push button was exposed, making an inadvertent selection more likely.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Apr 28, 2003 at 0730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PK-WAR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wamena - Mulia
MSN:
313
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mulia Airport, the twin engine aircraft struck the ground and crashed few km short o runway. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Mulia: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 2003 at 1230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PK-WAY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Mulia – Wamena
MSN:
261
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mulia Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 7,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured.