Region
North America

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Maudsley Lake

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1987
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-FWGE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
58
YOM:
1967
Location:
Maudsley Lake
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The float equipped aircraft landed hard at Maudsley Lake and bounced. The captain initiated a go-around when the aircraft struck trees and crashed. All nine occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Bronson Creek

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Diamond Aviation
Registration:
N538DW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
538
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bronson Creek
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Bronson Creek, the single engine airplane lost a wheel. It veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the wheel had not been properly fixed by the operator's technicians following a previous maintenance.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-DK in Pickle Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1987 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
C-FADD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Big Trout Lake - Pickle Lake
MSN:
14879/26324
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pickle Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
20284
Circumstances:
Douglas DC-3C C-FADD was returning to Pickle Lake from Big Trout Lake following delivery of a cargo of fuel. This was the third similar and last operation of the day. As the aircraft approached Pickle Lake, the pilot informed the company dispatch office that, prior to landing, he intended to carry out some local training for the benefit of the co-pilot who was scheduled to be upgraded to captain status the following month. The captain, a company training pilot, occupied the right seat. The aircraft entered a west to east holding pattern at the airport's NDB, descending in stages from 8,500 feet asl to 2,700 feet asl, the appropriate altitude for an instrument approach. The pilot transmitted that they would execute an NDB approach and subsequently reported during the procedure turn inbound to the airfield. About three minutes later, two other pilots flying in the vicinity observed the aircraft in a descent with the left wing folded upwards. The aircraft continued descending in an inverted attitude until it struck the ground.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left wing failed under normal flight loads as a result of a fatigue crack in the centre section lower wing skin. Anomalies in the radiographs taken during mandatory non-destructive testing inspections were not correctly interpreted.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Camp Placer

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1987
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-FRWK
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:
Chibougamau – Camp Placer
MSN:
450
YOM:
1965
Location:
Camp Placer
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Otter, with five occupants on board, was on a charter from its base at Chibougamau to Camp Placer, 206 miles to the north-east. At destination, a sand runway 2,200 feet in length and 100 feet in width had been built on an esker. On either side, there was a 100 foot gradient with a thirty degree slope. The wind speed was twenty knots. According to the operating manual, the wind exceeded the seven knot cross-wind limitation for the aircraft under such conditions. When the tail wheel touched down, the Otter turned nose to the wind, left the runway and came to rest at the bottom of the esker, in a sorry state. The Otter was destroyed in the accident.
Source: Karl E. Hayes

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander off Toronto City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1987 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
C-GIRH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Catharines – Toronto City
MSN:
404
YOM:
1974
Location:
Toronto City-Billy Bishop
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Toronto City-Billy Bishop, the pilote declared an emergency following an engine failure. While trying to reach the airfield, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in Lake Ontario about 5,6 km southwest of the airport. Both occupants were seriously injured but the pilot died of hypothermia few hours later.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1986 at 1749 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Nahanni Air Services
Registration:
C-FCMY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
169
YOM:
1970
Location:
Norman Wells
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The BN-2A Islander was on a night visual approach to Norman Wells (YVQ) in conditions of low ceilings and reduced visibility. At 500 feet above ground level (agl), the aircraft was in and out of the cloud base, and the pilot observed lights below. Believing he was over the town of Norman Wells, the pilot descended in an attempt to get below the cloud base for a visual right-hand circling approach to runway 08. The pilot was turning onto a northerly heading, when the aircraft struck the ice of the Mackenzie River. The right main gear broke off, and the aircraft bounced and remained airborne for approximately half a mile. It then skidded 600 feet along smooth ice into an area where large blocks of ice brought the aircraft to a stop.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The pilot mistook the lights of the oil installations for the lights of the town,
- In an attempt to maintain visual contact with the ground, the pilot descended below a reported 500-foot cloud base in an area where the cloud merged with ground fog, with the result that the aircraft descended to ground level,
- The unserviceable instrument panel light for the pilot's altimeter prevented the pilot from having continuous altitude information.

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Oshawa

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Whitby Airways
Registration:
C-GQSP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
MSN:
411-0141
YOM:
1965
Location:
Oshawa
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Oshawa Airport, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a house. Both pilots were seriously injured while both persons into the house were unhurt.

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air in Fort McMurray

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
C-GKRL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
BB-878
YOM:
1981
Location:
Fort McMurray
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Fort McMurray Airport, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 11 km southeast of the airfield. All four occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Rankin Inlet: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Arctic Trading Company
Registration:
C-FBBR
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-377
YOM:
1968
Location:
Rankin Inlet
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons shortly after takeoff from Rankin Inlet Airport, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Golden

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1986
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Amiskwi Air
Registration:
C-FJOQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1070
YOM:
1957
Location:
Golden
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, under the supervision of his employer/instructor, had set out to practise solo take-offs and landings in order to qualify for a float endorsement. During a take-off attempt from the river, the aircraft porpoised, cleared the water momentarily with the left and then the right float, swerved left, and struck the river bank in a level attitude. The aircraft then rolled and came to rest, partially submerged, on its left side. A fire started in the engine compartment but lasted for a short time only. The seriously injured pilot was rescued by the aircraft owner who swam across the river.
Probable cause:
The pilot, although experienced in the operation of wheel-equipped aircraft, had limited experience with aircraft on floats. His solo flying experience on float-equipped aircraft was less than one hour and was from the same location the day before the accident. The river flowed at about five knots in the direction of take-off. The water level of the river was low, and, as a result, sand bars were both above and just below the water surface. Because of these conditions, the average usable width of the river for take-offs and landings was less than 100 feet. The river had one prominent bend in the area where the aircraft commenced its take-off and another just downstream of the occurrence site. The riverbank on the left, in the direction of take-off, had tall trees up to the water's edge. The pilot suffered injuries during the crash; the lap belt had a Sliding friction-type buckle that loosened during the crash, and there was no shoulder harness installed in the aircraft. It is probable that the pilot's injuries would have been less serious if he had had a better restraint system. Although the pilot had successfully taken off and landed on the river the day before the accident, the conditions of that area were unsuitable for his limited float-flying experience. When the pilot could not establish directional control during the take-off, a prudent decision would have been to reject, rather than to continue. The supervising pilot should have realized that the conditions of the river were not suitable as a practice area for any pilot, particularly for a pilot whose float-flying experience was limited.
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