Canada | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

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:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

31-377

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

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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:

Country:

Region:

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Crew fatalities:

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Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Dease Lake: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1986 at 1735 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

C-GAEE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Atlin - Dease Lake

MSN:

724

YOM:

1954

Flight number:

2653

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The pilot and five passengers boarded the float-equipped Beaver aircraft in Atlin, BC, and departed on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Dease Lake at 1618 Pacific daylight time (PDT). The flight arrived over Dease Lake at 1735 and proceeded northward over the lake's east shore. Approximately one and one-half miles from the south end of the lake, the aircraft turned to the south to descend for a landing in the middle of the lake. The aircraft was in a fairly steep constant descent when it struck the water. It then nosed over and came to rest with only the bottom of the fuselage visible. The fuselage floated for about 10 minutes, then sank in 120 feet of water. The landing area was approximately one mile from the south end of the lake. The pilot escaped with serious injuries. The five passengers did not exit the aircraft and drowned.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident is that the pilot did not recognize the glassy-water conditions and did not use the glassy-water landing technique. The following findings were reported:
- Glassy-water conditions prevailed at the time of the landing.
- The aircraft struck the water at a high rate of descent, in a nose-down attitude.
- The passenger pre-flight briefing/card did not adequately prepare passengers to deal with emergency water evacuation.
- The pilot was certified and qualified for the flight in accordance with existing regulations.
- The aircraft was certified, equipped, and maintained in accordance with existing regulations and approved procedures.
- There was no evidence found of any airframe failure or system malfunction prior to or during the flight.
- The weight and centre of gravity were within the prescribed limits.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Pickle Lake

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1986

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

Operator:

Pickle Lake Air Services

Registration:

C-FBER

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Pickle Lake, while in cruising altitude, the pilot hear a loud bang. The engine lost power then caught fire and failed. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a swampy scrub, bursting into flames. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The engine reduction gear assembly had failed as the result of lack of lubrication.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Tow Hill: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1986

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

C-FOMI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Masset - Prince Rupert

MSN:

1204

YOM:

1958

Location:

Tow Hill (Graham Island)

British Columbia

Country:

Canada

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Masset to Prince Rupert, the pilot encountered low ceiling. While cruising at a very low altitude, the aircraft struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located about 25 km east of Masset. A passenger was killed while three other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions. At the time of the accident, visibility was below minimums.

Crash of a Grumman S-2 Tracker in McBride: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

C-GHQY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

035

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

Tanker 62

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a fire fighting mission. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland CC-138 Twin Otter 300 near Calgary: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1986 at 1452 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

13807

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

309

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a SAR mission after a small plane disappeared. While flying in relative good weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the Kananaskis Park, about 75 km west of Calgary. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed, three crew members and five observers.
Crew:
Cpt Ted Katz, pilot
Cpt Wayne Plumbtree, copilot,
Brian Burkett, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by a freak optical illusion. Color of rocks in mountain combined with sun angle at the time of the crash to make a large ledge, impossible to see.

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