Crash of a Beechcraft C99 Airliner in Moosonee: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1990 at 2138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GFAW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Timmins - Moosonee
MSN:
U-197
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
4F1602
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2423
Captain / Total hours on type:
298.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1038
Copilot / Total hours on type:
102
Aircraft flight hours:
14766
Circumstances:
At 2043 eastern daylight time (EDT), Frontier Air Flight 1602, C-GFAW, a Beechcraft C99 Airliner, took off from Timmins, Ontario, on a scheduled domestic flight to Moosonee, Ontario. The aircraft carried a two-pilot crew, two passengers, and approximately 60 pounds of freight and baggage. The flight proceeded, via airways, to Moosonee at 7,000 feet above sea level. At 2121 EDT, the flight was cleared for an approach at Moosonee with a temporary altitude restriction of 5,000 feet. The crew elected to fly the very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) runway 24 approach. At 2129 EDT, the crew reported on the 061° radial of the VOR at five nautical miles (nm) outbound. Shortly after intercepting the 061° radial inbound, the crew initiated a descent to the 440-foot minimum descent altitude (MDA). While in the descent, the aircraft broke through the lowest cloud layer at 900 feet asl, approximately 9.2 nm from the VOR. At this point, both pilots had the runway lights in sight, and the captain decided to change to a visual approach and proceed inbound at 700 feet asl. Shortly after advising the co-pilot of his intentions, the captain initiated the before-landing cockpit check and selected the landing gear lever to the DOWN position. Immediately thereafter, the aircraft struck trees and crashed seven miles east-northeast of the Moosonee Airport. One of the pilot was killed while three other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the captain inadvertently flew the aircraft into trees, during a condition of visual illusion, as a result of inadequate crew coordination in that neither pilot effectively monitored the altimeter. Contributing to the occurrence were the absence of approach lighting, the lack of company crew pairing policy, the captain’s unfamiliarity with black-hole illusion and the seating position of the captain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander in Inuvik

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GSAF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
263
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in British Columbia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GPMZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
31-7401120
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Struck a hill somewhere in BC while on a charter flight. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1989 at 1126 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GBJE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quaqtaq - Kangiqsujuaq
MSN:
566
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, struck a ditch and came to rest. All 13 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control upon touchdown was the consequence of strong crosswinds.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Carlingford: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1989 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3592
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17341
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Loring AFB on a training flight. While cruising by night along the US-Canada border, the aircraft suffered an explosion, entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in Carlingford, New Brunswick. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
A fuel pump go dry and ignited fuel vapor after becoming overheated. Fifth KC-135 accident due to similar causes. At least 1,500 liters of fuel must remain in all tanks to avoid fuel pump overheating.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Terrace: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1989 at 0828 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GSLB
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Prince Rupert - Terrace
MSN:
AC-481
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
SLK070
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
11177
Circumstances:
A Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III passenger plane, operating as Skylink Flight 070 was destroyed in accident at Terrace Airport, BC (YXT), Canada. All five passengers and two crew members were killed. Flight 070 took off from Vancouver, BC (YVR) at 06:51 on a scheduled domestic flight to Terrace, BC. At 08:20 Flight 070 was cleared for an approach at Terrace. At 08:27, at an altitude of 1,200 feet asl and just prior to reaching the published missed approach point (MAP), the captain stated "OK, I got the button here." Fourteen seconds after this, the captain saw the button of runway 27. At approximately this same time, the aircraft was observed on what corresponded to a downwind leg for runway 15 at about 500 feet above ground level (agl), flying straight and level over the threshold of runway 27, with the landing gear down. The aircraft crossed the localizer transmitter at an altitude of 1,100 feet asl and at an airspeed of 140 knots. Approximately 30 seconds after crossing the localizer transmitter, the aircraft commenced a descent out of 1,100 feet, and the flaps were lowered to the full position. The aircraft then levelled at an altitude of approximately 900 feet. At or about this same time, the aircraft was observed on base leg for runway 15 at a low altitude, close to the east/west ridge located about 1.5 miles north of the airport. Twenty-six seconds after full flap was selected, a missed approach was initiated, and the landing gear and flaps were selected up. Within five seconds of the initiation of the missed approach, the aircraft began to accelerate and a rate of climb of approximately 1,200 feet per minute was established. This rate of climb quickly diminished to zero, followed by the start of a descent which quickly increased to 3,000 feet per minute. As the aircraft descended, the co-pilot called "descending" twice. A few seconds later, the aircraft struck trees on the west side of runway 15 just inside the airport perimeter. A second and final impact with the ground occurred just outside the airport perimeter approximately 800 feet from the initial tree strike. A fire erupted following the ground impact.
Probable cause:
The crew continued with the approach beyond the missed approach point without establishing the required visual references. The evidence indicates that, while subsequently carrying out a missed approach in IFR conditions, the aircraft was flown into the ground in a manner consistent with disorientation. Contributing to the occurrence were the inadequacy of the company's operating procedures, the reduced operating standards, and the inadequate definition of the visual references required for a circling approach.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T-1040 Cheyenne III in Sachs Harbour: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GBDH
Survivors:
No
MSN:
31-8375003
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Sachs Harbour Airport, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to fog when the aircraft crashed in a lake located 600 meters short of runway. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Taltheilei Narrows: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GUJY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
393
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Taltheilei Narrows harbor, while climbing, the single engine aircraft entered a steep left turn then descended into the lake and crashed, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed. It seems that strong winds were gusting in the area at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1989 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GBYA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bonaventure - Bonaventure
MSN:
43717
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
24220
Circumstances:
A Douglas C-118A (DC-6A) fire fighting plane was destroyed in an accident near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, QC, Canada. All four crew members were killed. The Conifair plane took off from Bonaventure Airport, QC (YVB) at 19:15 for a spray operation 30 miles southeast of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. This was to be the last spraying flight of the season out of the Bonaventure base. A crew of four was on board, including two flight engineers who were on a familiarization training flight. The aircraft was carrying 2,952 U.S. gallons of Dipel 132, a non-toxic microbial insecticide. The aircraft arrived over the spray area at 19:35. An inertial navigation system (INS) to follow pre-established spraying tracks. The first track was sprayed uneventfully. At the end of the first track, the aircraft made a 180-degree turn to spray the second track, which was parallel to and about 800 feet northeast of the first track. This meant that the aircraft had to fly from a valley at an elevation of 1,000 feet above sea level (asl) up a mountain consisting of two levels. The first level is about 1,800 feet asl and about 3,280 feet along the flight path. After the first level, the terrain rose within approximately 1,000 feet along the flight path, to the summit of the mountain at an elevation of 2,175 feet asl. The two occupants of a Cessna 310 spotter aircraft observed a decrease of the DC-6A ground speed during the climb over the first level of the mountain. They then noticed that the aircraft yawed and started a steep, left turn. The spotter crew stated that, shortly after the start of the left turn, the DC-6A left wing began to strike trees. The aircraft nosed down, crashed on the side of the mountain, and exploded at an elevation of 2,050 feet asl.
Probable cause:
On a low-level spraying flight, the crew attempted a climb over rising terrain which exceeded the climb performance of the aircraft.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain off Pelée Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1989 at 2300 LT
Registration:
C-GSWC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pelée Island - Windsor
MSN:
31-7305067
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was dispatched at Pelée Airport to evacuate to Windsor a patient. On board were one patient, his spouse, one ambulance officer and two pilots. Shortly after a night takeoff from runway 28, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in Lake Erie. The copilot and the patient survived while three other occupants were killed.