Crash of a De Havilland DHC-5D Buffalo in Calgary

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1990 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAE064
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Quito – Billings – Calgary
MSN:
64
YOM:
1976
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft suffered an incident in Ecuador few days prior to this accident and damages were reported to the undercarriage. A ferry flight to Calgary was arranged so the aircraft could be repaired by technicians by De Havilland Canada. The flight from Quito to Calgary was completed with the undercarriage down. Upon touchdown on runway 28 at Calgary Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its nose and came rest, bursting into flames. In a hurry, both pilots escaped the cabin and did not stop both engines. Hydraulic fluids ignited and the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire. Both pilots were uninjured. Dual registration FAE064 and HC-BFH.
Probable cause:
It was concluded that the self-centering mechanism could be forced off centre because of a system malfunction caused by the previous accident or by intentional nosewheel steering input, which would cause enough pressure to shear the pins. The internal damage to the controlcam mechanism allowed the wheels to be off centre at touchdown. Marks on the adjacent sides of the pulleys showed that the cable had been lodged in the space between the two pulleys. Although the extent of this damage was limited, it was representative of damage caused by the previous jungle accident and would have caused the sluggish response to nosewheel commands experienced earlier by the crew. When the weight of the aircraft settled on the misaligned nosewheel, the temporary ferry repairs failed in overload and the nosewheel collapsed.

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

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FHGU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
577
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Lake Auxillon, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck trees on the shore and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Thistle Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1990 at 1915 LT
Registration:
C-FWAB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
349
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew just departed Thistle Lake after delivering cargo for local mine workers. Just after liftoff, while climbing to a height of about 10 feet, the aircraft banked right and struck the rotor of a parked Bell 206. Out of control, it crashed few dozen meters further, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The reason of the loss of control could not be determined.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Pelly Crossing

Date & Time: May 29, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FBCG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
408
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Otter was on a diamond drill move from the Pelly Crossing Airport in the Yukon to a site 45 miles to the east. On board was 2,300 pounds of drill equipment, the pilot and one passenger. The aircraft’s weight with this load and fuel was just under the maximum authorized weight of 8,000 pounds. The Pelly Crossing Airport had a three thousand foot east/west gravel runway, at an elevation of 1,870 feet in mountainous terrain. The pilot departed runway 07 using a reduced power setting and upon becoming airborne he pumped the flaps to the full-up position. The aircraft began to settle towards the trees off the end of the strip. The pilot applied full power and as the aircraft began to settle into the trees closed the throttle. The Otter descended into the trees, burst into flames and was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The pilot was able to egress the aircraft and helped the passenger out. Both received serious burns and other injuries.
Probable cause:
The use of partial power for take-off and the retraction of the flaps prior to reaching a safe altitude and airspeed caused the aircraft to lose altitude and contact the trees during the climb out.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon on Mt Llangorse: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1990
Operator:
Registration:
C-FBHN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Atlin – Smithers
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions on a flight from Atlin to Smithers, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Llangorse. All three occupants were killed.

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.