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

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1996 at 1347 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GNDN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Iqaluit - Markham Bay - Lake Harbour
MSN:
427
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
7F064
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3813
Captain / Total hours on type:
2028.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2724
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1000
Circumstances:
First Air 064, a DHC-6 Twin Otter (Serial No. 427), took off from Iqaluit, Northwest Territories (NWT), at 1258 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on a charter flight to Markham Bay, Lake Harbour, and back to Iqaluit. The aircraft was carrying six barrels of Jet B fuel to be delivered to Markham Bay, an off-strip landing site. At 1300, just after he took off, the captain told the Iqaluit Flight Service Station (FSS) specialist that the estimated time of arrival (ETA) for Markham Bay would be 1335. At approximately 1345, the crew informed First Air dispatch that they were landing at Markham Bay. After touching down, the pilot attempted an overshoot. During the attempt, the aircraft struck the ground about 200 metres past the end of the landing area, got airborne again, cleared a ridge, then crashed onto a rocky beach. A helicopter located the airplane 629 metres from the beginning of the landing area, partially submerged in water. The two pilots, the only occupants, received fatal injuries in the crash.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, a decision was made to overshoot even though insufficient runway remained for acceleration, take-off, and climb. Likely contributing directly to the decision to overshoot was the difficulty in controlling the aircraft on touchdown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S near Sioux Lookout

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FBGO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Frances – Granite Lake
MSN:
A-865
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Fort Frances, Ontario, with the pilot and four passengers on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Granite Lake. The weather was overcast with good visibility on departure. However, about one-half of the way to Granite Lake, just north of Ignace, the pilot encountered an area of increasing rain and decreasing visibility. The pilot made several course deviations to find a route through the poor weather, but eventually could find neither a way out of the poor weather nor a lake with suitable conditions for landing. While manoeuvring at low level and with heavy rain obscuring the horizon, the pilot reported that the engines lost partial power because of carburettor icing. The pilot applied carburettor heat but was unable to restore engine power or sustain aircraft altitude. The pilot attempted to keep the aircraft level, and in a matter of seconds, the aircraft descended into the trees. The aircraft travelled approximately 500 feet through the trees; the left wing was torn off and a fuel-fed fire broke out almost immediately. All occupants survived the crash with minor injuries and exited the aircraft. The passenger occupying the copilot seat received burns to his upper body. The crash site was overflown about 15 minutes later by a second company pilot who transmitted a Mayday. The occupants were picked up by helicopter about one hour later
Probable cause:
The pilot continued the flight into adverse weather at low level and force-landed the aircraft into trees when the engines experienced a partial power loss that was probably caused by carburettor icing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26T Merlin IIA in Whale Cove

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1996 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GTHN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
T26-016
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Whale Cove Airport, the aircraft deviated to the left after a course of about 1,600 feet. It veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The aircraft deviated from the runway centerline after landing due to strong crosswinds gusting up to 31 knots. The certification limit for the aircraft in such conditions was 22 knots.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Cochenour

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1996 at 1914 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FMEL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cochenour - Thunder Bay
MSN:
222
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The float-equipped DHC-3 (Otter), carrying the pilot and six passengers, departed the company's water base at Cochenour, Ontario, on a charter flight to Sandy Beach Lodge, located on Trout Lake approximately 25 miles to the east. The pilot levelled the aircraft and configured it for cruise flight at approximately 2,500 feet above sea level (asl). Shortly after level-off, the pilot heard a popping sound and noted a slight loss of engine power, and wisps of whitish-grey smoke entered the cabin. The aircraft instruments indicated normal engine operation, and the fire warning system did not activate. The pilot suspected that the engine had suffered a cylinder failure and turned to return to Cochenour. A passenger seated in the right front crew seat reported flames near the floor at the front, right corner of the cockpit. The pilot radioed the Thunder Bay Flight Service Station to advise of the emergency, had the passenger vacate the crew seat, and attempted to suppress the fire with a hand-held extinguisher. Thick, black smoke billowed into the cabin, restricting visibility and causing respiratory distress for all of the occupants. The pilot opened the left crew door in order to see ahead and landed the aircraft, still on fire, on McNeely Bay, the first available landing site. The aircraft landed hard but remained upright on the floats. The occupants left by the main door, with their life jackets, and were picked up almost immediately by nearby boats. The aircraft was consumed by fire within minutes after landing. The pilot suffered second degree burns to his face and right forearm, and the passenger in the right crew seat suffered burns to his right leg. The remaining five passengers escaped serious injury.
Probable cause:
Continued operation of the engine following an exhaust valve failure on the n°2 cylinder resulted in a flaming gas path near the right side of the firewall, an exhaust system overheat, and a subsequent cabin fire.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R near Kangiqsujuaq: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1996 at 0804 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GRPM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kangiqsujuaq – Kuujjuaq
MSN:
31-8012021
YOM:
1980
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The Piper Navajo PA-31 (serial number 318012021), belonging to Les transports Aéro 2000 Inc., with three passengers and one pilot on board, was on a charter visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Kangiqsujuaq, Quebec, to Kuujjuaq, Quebec. At 1056 eastern daylight saving time (EDT), the pilot contacted the Kuujjuaq flight service station (FSS) by radio and reported that he had taken off eight minutes earlier and planned to overfly the Nouveau-Québec crater. That was the last message received from the pilot. When the aircraft failed to arrive at destination at the expected time, a search was initiated. The next day, a ground search team found the aircraft. The Navajo struck the eastern slope of the Nouveau-Québec crater while in straight and level flight. The four occupants of the aircraft were fatally injured in the accident.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued flight in adverse weather and may have lost situational awareness due to incorrect information provided by the GPS. The pilot evidently did not have the visual references required to avoid striking the eastern slope of the Nouveau-Québec crater.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Terrace: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1996 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GDOB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ketchikan – Prince Rupert – Dawson Creek – Buffalo Narrows
MSN:
194
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5000
Circumstances:
The single-engine, float-equipped DHC-3 Otter departed Ketchikan, Alaska, at 0905 Pacific daylight time (PDT) on 09 May 1996 with a pilot and co-pilot on board. They were on a visual flight rules (VFR) ferry flight to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, en route to Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. After a refuelling stop and weather briefing at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the aircraft departed eastbound along the published Telkwa Pass VFR route. When the aircraft did not arrive at Dawson Creek, it was reported overdue. The next day, an extensive search for the missing Otter was commenced and wreckage was located by search and rescue aircraft at 1930 PDT, 30 miles east of Terrace, in the Telkwa Pass. The aircraft had struck mountainous terrain and was destroyed. Both occupants were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
The absence of aircraft wreckage and documentation precludes an analysis of the technical aspects of this accident. This analysis, therefore, concentrates solely on the operational aspects. The high impact speed is indicative of either a loss of control followed by a rapid descent into terrain or controlled flight into unseen terrain. Given that the pilot reported encountering snow showers within 15 miles of the accident site, it is possible that the weather continued to deteriorate and may have adversely affected the pilot's ability to maintain visual contact with the terrain.
Findings:
1. The weight and centre of gravity of the aircraft at the last take-off were estimated to have been within the prescribed limits.
2. The pilot was certified, trained, and qualified for the flight in accordance with existing regulations.
3. Marginal visual weather conditions existed in the vicinity of the accident site.
4. It is possible that deteriorating weather affected the pilot's ability to maintain visual contact with the terrain.
Causes and Contributing Factors:
It was not determined why the aircraft struck terrain; however, it is likely that the contact occurred during conditions of reduced visibility.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Kenty Lake

Date & Time: May 5, 1996 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GCZG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
17118/34385
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing on the icy Kenty Lake, the right ski struck a snowbank, causing the gear to collapse. All three occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Turbo Beaver III in La Ronge

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1995 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FOEF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1605
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at La Ronge, the single engine aircraft was stolen by a drunk 'pilot' who was able to run the engine but attempted to take off with controls locked. At a speed of about 60 knots, the aircraft struck obstacles and crashed on a hill. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Crashed after being stolen by an intoxicated 'pilot'.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 700 near Mt Elmo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1995 at 1946 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N9920S
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Calgary - Hillsboro
MSN:
700-020
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
At about 1826 mountain standard time (MST), the aircraft, with the pilot and four passengers on board, departed the Calgary International Airport, Alberta, on a night instrument flight rules (IFR) flight to Hillsboro, Oregon, USA. At about 1946 the aircraft disappeared from the Vancouver Area Control Centre (ACC) radar screen in the vicinity of Castlegar, British Columbia. The Victoria Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was notified, and search aircraft were dispatched. Despite bi-national search cooperation and radar fixes of the aircraft's last known position (LKP), a seven-day search failed to locate the missing aircraft. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was not received. On 14 June 1996, the wreckage was located at latitude 49°14'48"N, longitude 117°03'20"W, at an elevation of approximately 6,700 feet above sea level (asl). The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
It could not be determined why the aircraft departed cruise flight and began a rapid descent from which the pilot did not recover. It was determined, however, that the pilot attempted flight through an area where the probability of severe clear icing, in freezing drizzle, was predicted by the area forecast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo in Wollaston Lake

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1995 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GOLM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wollaston Lake – La Ronge
MSN:
31-7712050
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4920
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7056
Circumstances:
The Eagle Air Services Piper PA-31-325 Navajo, C-GOLM, departed runway 34 at Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan, at 2325 central standard time (CST), on a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) flight to La Ronge. The flight was arranged by the Wollaston nursing station to transport a patient to a hospital in La Ronge. The patient was accompanied on the flight by her mother and a nurse from the nursing station. The aircraft was observed to climb at an unusually shallow angle after take-off, and, when efforts by company personnel to reach the pilot by radio were unsuccessful, a ground search was commenced. The aircraft was found about five minutes after the accident, located on the ice- and snow-covered surface of Wollaston Lake, about 0.75 nautical miles (nm) from the departure end of the runway, and about 1.3 nm from the point of commencement of the take-off roll. The pilot and the patient suffered serious injuries. The other two occupants sustained minor injuries. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness at latitude 58°6.98'N, longitude 103°10.79'W, at an elevation of 1,300 feet above sea level (asl). The temperature was about -25°/C.
Probable cause:
After take-off, the left propeller was likely on its start locks, which, as the airspeed increased, allowed the propeller to overspeed. The pilot was unable to resolve the situation in time to prevent the aircraft from striking the surface of Wollaston Lake. Contributing to the severity of the patient's injuries were the inadequate restraint provided by the stretcher and its restraining strap, the lack of standards regarding stretchers used in aircraft, and the lack of standards as to the operation of MEDEVAC flights.
Final Report: