Fort Saint John | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft was en route from Yellowknife, NT to Fort St. John, BC. The pilot noticed fumes and smoke coming from behind the rear cabin wall. The cabin was depressurized and the door opened to clear the smoke. A forced landing was conducted onto the frozen surface of Falaise Lake, NT. The pilot immediately egressed, however, the aircraft was soon engulfed in flames and was completely consumed. The pilot was not injured and was flown out by helicopter.

Crash of a BAe 3112 Jetstream 31 in Fort Saint John

Date & Time: Jan 9, 2007 at 1133 LT

Type of aircraft:

BAe Jetstream 31

Operator:

Registration:

C-FBIP

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Grande Prairie – Fort Saint John

MSN:

820

YOM:

1988

Flight number:

PEA905

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13000

Captain / Total hours on type:

300.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

275

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was conducting an instrument approach to Runway 29 at Fort St. John, British Columbia, on a scheduled instrument flight rules flight from Grande Prairie, Alberta. At 1133 mountain standard time, the aircraft touched down 320 feet short of the runway, striking approach and runway threshold lights. The right main and nose landing gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on the right side of the runway, 380 feet from the threshold. There were no injuries to the 2 pilots and 10 passengers. At the time of the occurrence, runway visual range was fluctuating between 1800 and 2800 feet in snow and blowing snow, with winds gusting to 40 knots.

Probable cause:

Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. A late full flap selection at 300 feet above ground level (agl) likely destabilized the aircraft’s pitch attitude, descent rate and speed in the critical final stage of the precision approach, resulting in an increased descent rate before reaching the runway threshold.
2. After the approach lights were sighted at low altitude, both pilots discontinued monitoring of instruments including the glide slope indicator. A significant deviation below the optimum glide slope in low visibility went unnoticed by the crew until the aircraft descended into the approach lights.
Finding as to Risk:
1. The crew rounded the decision height (DH) figure for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach downward, and did not apply a cold temperature correction factor. The combined error could have resulted in a descent of 74 feet below the DH on an ILS approach to minimums, with a risk of undershoot.
Other Finding:
1. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was returned to service following an intelligibility test that indicated that the first officer’s hot boom microphone intercom channel did not record. Although the first officer voice was recorded by other means, a potential existed for loss of information, which was key to the investigation.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air in Grande Prairie

Date & Time: Apr 7, 2001 at 0512 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

C-FWPN

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:

Fort Saint John – Grande Prairie

MSN:

B-51

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Fort Saint John, the crew started a night approach to Grande Prairie Airport. The aircraft landed slightly to the left of the runway centerline. After touchdown on a snow covered runway (about two inches of snow), the left wing struck a windrow of snow. Out of control, the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in snow. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fokker Universal in Fort Saint John

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Fokker Universal

Operator:

United Air Transport

Registration:

G-CAFU

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

404

YOM:

1926

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Fort Saint John-Charly Lake, while on initial climb, the pilot initiated a turn when the seaplane stalled and crashed. The aircraft was lost and the pilot was injured.