Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Nakina

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1997 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FTZF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nakina - Fort Hope
MSN:
208B-0389
YOM:
1994
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3200
Captain / Total hours on type:
1300.00
Circumstances:
At approximately 1110 eastern standard time (EST , the pilot commenced a scheduled cargo flight from Nakina, Ontario, to Fort Hope in a Cessna 208B Caravan, serial number 208B0389. The pilot reported that he selected the flaps to 20°, lined up on runway 09, and set the power at around 1,600 to 1,700 foot-pounds of torque. The torque redline is 1,865 foot-pounds. About 3/4 of the way through the take-off run, the aircraft began to yaw to the right, which the pilot initially compensated for by applying left rudder. As the airspeed increased and the nosewheel lifted off the runway, the right yaw became more pronounced, and the aircraft became more difficult to control. The aircraft became airborne at about 85 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), with the pilot using left rudder and left aileron in his attempt to compensate for the yaw; however, he was not able to gain control of the aircraft. The aircraft touched down briefly on the runway, then became airborne again as the take-off continued. While flying at less than 20 feet above ground level over a small, frozen lake immediately off the end of the runway, the aircraft descended and struck the snow-covered surface of the lake. The aircraft was in a nose-high, right-wing-low attitude when it struck the ice. The aircraft flipped over and came to rest in an inverted position, approximately 1,000 feet past the end of the runway and 200 feet to the right of the extended right edge of the runway. The pilot received only minor injuries. He exited the aircraft and walked back to the flight office.
Probable cause:
The pilot experienced directional control difficulties during the take-off run, probably because the rudder trim was set at the near full left position. Because the rudder trim indicator could be moved without affecting the actual rudder trim, it is probable that it did not reflect the actual position of the rudder trim.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 99 Airliner in Fort Chipewyan

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1996 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GSFP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort McMurray – Fort Chipewyan
MSN:
U-43
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
3T103
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Fort Chipewayn Airport, the twin engine aircraft was unstable and rolling left and right. Upon landing, the right propeller struck the runway surface. The right engine partially torn off and the right wing was severely bent. The aircraft came to a halt few dozen metres further. All 14 occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Learjet 36A in Stephenville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1996 at 0238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N14TX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grand Rapids – Stephenville – Shannon
MSN:
36-033
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5700
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2800
Copilot / Total hours on type:
400
Circumstances:
Learjet L36A (serial number 033), N14TX, was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Stephenville, Newfoundland. At 0216 Newfoundland standard time (NST1), N14TX was cleared by Gander Area Control Centre (ACC) for an approach to the Stephenville airport. The co-pilot contacted the St. John=s Flight Service Station (FSS) and advised that they would be conducting an approach to runway 28. The FSS specialist relayed the latest Stephenville weather observation and runway surface condition report to the aircraft and requested that the crew advise St. John=s FSS when they had landed. When the crew of N14TX did not report after landing at Stephenville, the St. John=s FSS specialist advised Gander ACC that the aircraft was missing, and a search was begun. Initial information received by the agencies searching for the missing aircraft did not include the aircraft=s last recorded radar position. The wreckage was located approximately three hours and ten minutes after the aircraft was reported missing, within the airport perimeter, close to the last observed aircraft radar position. The aircraft struck a service road embankment in an inverted, wings-level attitude. The two crew members were fatally injured. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness at approximately 0238 NST.
Probable cause:
Shortly after crossing the runway threshold, the aircraft began moving to the left of the runway. The motion probably was undetected by the pilot until the aircraft touched down off the left side of the runway surface. The pilot did not maintain the proper aircraft attitude during an attempted missed approach, and the aircraft struck the terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Gods River

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1996 at 1423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FHOZ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Winnipeg – Gods Lake Narrows – Gods River – Winnipeg
MSN:
TC-283
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
PAG207
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gods River Airport runway 27, the right main gear struck a snow berm located 105 metres short of runway threshold. The crew continued the approach and the aircraft landed 99 metres past the runway threshold. On touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid fore few dozen metres then veered off runway to the right and came to rest. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Puvirnituq

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1996 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GKFS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
La Grande - Puvirnituq
MSN:
TC-215E
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
PRO450
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
1050.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
350
Circumstances:
Propair flight 450, a Swearingen SA226TC (serial number TC-215E) with 13 persons on board, was on a charter flight from La Grande Rivière, Quebec, to Puvirnituq, Quebec. The co-pilot was in the right-hand seat and was flying the aircraft. Following an instrument approach to runway 19, the aircraft broke through the cloud layer and the co-pilot switched to visual for the final approach. As soon as the nose gear touched down on landing, the aircraft veered left. The co-pilot applied full right rudder and throttled back to GROUND IDLE in preparation for reversing thrust. A short time later, the pilot-in-command took the controls of the aircraft and left the throttle levers on GROUND IDLE. He then observed that the aircraft was drifting further to the left and that, even when he applied full right rudder, he was unable to correct the drift. As a last resort, he pressed the PARK button for the nosewheel steering system, but the aircraft continued its course toward the runway edge and crashed at the bottom of the embankment. The investigation established that the aircraft left the runway about 2,000 feet from the threshold after turning left 90 degrees relative to the runway centre line. The nose gear and main landing gear separated from the aircraft when the aircraft fell from the runway shoulder to the bottom of the embankment.
Probable cause:
The aircraft left the runway during the landing roll because the nosewheel was probably deflected left, for reasons that could not be determined. Contributing to the accident were a lack of communication in the cockpit and the actions taken by the crew to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Charlo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1996 at 1213 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N744W
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port-Menier - Gaspé - Bangor
MSN:
31-7952246
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
3600
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6041
Circumstances:
The aircraft, a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain (hereafter referred to as a Chieftain), took off at 1113 Atlantic daylight saving time on a charter flight from Port-Menier, Quebec, to Bangor, Maine, with one pilot and seven passengers on board. As the aircraft was approaching Charlo, New Brunswick, the pilot reported to Moncton Air Traffic Control Centre that his aircraft had a rough-running engine, and that he would be making an emergency landing at Charlo airport. While the pilot was apparently manoeuvring to land the aircraft, it crashed three miles west of the runway, in the community of Eel River Crossing. All eight occupants of the aircraft received fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
There was a loss of power from the right engine, and the pilot did not conserve altitude or configure the aircraft for maximum performance following the loss of power. Control of the aircraft was lost, probably as the pilot was attempting to intercept the ILS for runway 13 during a low-level turn. Contributing factors were the overweight condition of the aircraft and the lack of in-flight emergency procedures training received by the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Portage Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FFHF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ugly Lake - Goose Bay
MSN:
19
YOM:
1949
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
894
Circumstances:
The pilot of C-FFHF, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, departed the company camp at Ugly Lake, Labrador, en route to Goose Bay. Prior to arriving at Goose Bay, the pilot contacted an overflying Air Labrador flight and advised them that he had landed on a pond and that he needed the SAR (search and rescue) time extended on his flight plan. The pilot also said that he would be departing the pond shortly, en route to Goose Bay. When C-FFHF did not arrive at the destination by the SAR time of 2030 Atlantic daylight saving time (ADT), a search was commenced. Seven days later, an oil slick and a paddle with the company name on it were identified on a pond about 66 nautical miles (nm) north of Goose Bay. Divers located the aircraft wreckage in 120 feet of water. The aircraft was destroyed and the bodies of the pilot and passenger were located inside the wreckage.
Probable cause:
It is probable that the pilot was unable to maintain visual reference with the surface sometime after take-off from the pond. The aircraft struck the water either during the pilot's attempt to regain visual reference or because the pilot lost control of the aircraft in reduced visibility.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Cassiar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1996 at 2024 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FIBP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Watson Lake - Desolation Lake
MSN:
787
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a positioning flight from Watson Lake to Desolation Lake. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the single engine aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located in hilly terrain, about 114 km southwest from Watson Lake. The wreckage was found a day later and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Alliford Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1996 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GCMY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tasu - Alliford Bay
MSN:
22
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The float-equipped, turbine-engine, DHC-3 Otter departed from Tasu, British Columbia, at about 1940 Pacific daylight saving time (PDT), with the pilot and two passengers on board, on a charter, visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Alliford Bay, 26 nautical miles to the north. When the aircraft did not arrive at destination, the operator initiated a search. The aircraft wreckage was located the following day, 18 nautical miles (nm) south of Alliford Bay, in rugged terrain at an elevation of 1,700 feet above sea level (asl). The aircraft was destroyed, and there were no survivors.
Probable cause:
The pilot probably made a navigational error because of restricted visibility in fog and light drizzle and entered the wrong valley, and he delayed his decision to reverse course until he was unable to avoid the weather.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster near Bronson Creek: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1996 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FGNI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bronson Creek - Whitehorse - Wrangell
MSN:
10389
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
12500
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2900
Copilot / Total hours on type:
420
Aircraft flight hours:
50754
Circumstances:
The DC-4 aircraft (serial number 10389) was on a visual flight rules flight from Bronson Creek, British Columbia, to Wrangell, Alaska, with a crew of three and about 16,600 pounds of cargo on board. The departure from the remote mining strip was uneventful until the aircraft approached 1,500 feet above sea level, when the crew heard a whining noise in their headsets. Believing that the whining was caused by an inverter problem, they switched inverters, but the problem persisted. Electrical instrument indications in the cockpit then became erratic, and the number 2 engine, on the left wing, began to misfire; its fire warning light in the cockpit illuminated briefly, but without the accompanying bell. The captain confirmed visually that the number 2 engine was on fire and the crew carried out the engine fire drill; however, the fire did not extinguish. The captain commenced a right-hand turn to return to the Bronson Creek airstrip, and announced to the crew that the number 2 engine had separated from the wing. The captain applied maximum power to the three remaining engines; however, the aircraft began to lose altitude. Both pilots held the rudder and aileron controls at full right deflection in an attempt to prevent the aircraft from yawing or rolling to the left. The aircraft was shaking violently at that time, and the crew members were unable to read any of the engine or flight instruments. At about 50 feet above ground level, just short of the Iskut River, the pilots closed the throttles. The aircraft descended rapidly, and the burning left wing struck a tree just as the fuselage contacted the surface of the river. The three occupants escaped the burning aircraft, and the first officer and load master swam to safety. The captain is missing and is presumed to have drowned. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The n°2 engine separated from the aircraft as a result of an intense fire in the wing. The loss of the engine rendered the aircraft uncontrollable, and the pilots were forced to land in the river
Final Report: