Zone

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Chute des Passes: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 2010 at 1117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GAXL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Lac des Quatre - Lac Margane
MSN:
1032
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
11500
Captain / Total hours on type:
9000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
17204
Circumstances:
The float-equipped de Havilland Beaver DHC-2 Mk.I (registration number C-GAXL, serial number 1032), operated by Air Saguenay (1980) Inc., was flying under visual flight rules from Lac des Quatre to Lac Margane, Quebec, with 1 pilot and 5 passengers on board. A few minutes after take-off, the pilot reported intentions of making a precautionary landing due to adverse weather conditions. At approximately 1117, Eastern Daylight Time, the aircraft hit a mountain, 12 nautical miles west-south-west of the southern part of Lac Péribonka. The aircraft was destroyed and partly consumed by the fire that broke out after the impact. The pilot and 3 passengers were killed; 1 passenger sustained serious injuries and 1 passenger sustained minor injuries. No ELT signal was received.
Probable cause:
Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. The pilot took off in weather conditions that were below the minimum for visual flight rules, and continued the flight in those conditions.
2. After a late decision to carry out a precautionary alighting, the pilot wound up in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Consequently, the visual references were reduced to the point of leading the aircraft to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
3. The passenger at the rear of the aircraft was not seated on a seat compliant with aeronautical standards. The passenger was ejected from the plane at the moment of impact, which diminished his chances of survival.
Findings as to Risk:
1. The lack of training on pilot decision-making (PDM) for air taxi operators exposes pilots and passengers to increased risk when flying in adverse weather conditions.
2. In view of the absence of an ELT signal and the operator’s delay in calling, search efforts were initiated more than 3 ½ hours after the accident. That additional time lag can influence the seriousness of injuries and the survival of the occupants.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 near Chute des Passes: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1991 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GFQA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1091
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
Tanker 236
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While flying at low height on a fire fighting mission, Tanker 236 struck tree tops, rolled to the right and crashed in a wooded area. Both pilots were killed.