Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Sachigo Lake

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1986
Operator:
Registration:
C-GNNA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12483
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft, with two crew members, two passengers, and a load of cargo, struck a 150-foot-high radio tower, while the crew was manoeuvring to land in poor weather. As the aircraft then became difficult to control, the crew carried out a wheels-up forced landing. During the landing, the cargo of drums containing automotive gasoline broke free, causing damage and trapping the passengers. Once the drums were moved, the passengers were able to leave the aircraft through the cockpit escape hatch. The pilot-in-command and a passenger were seriously injured. The Canadian Aviation Safety Board determined that the flight was continued into below VFR weather conditions. In addition, it was determined that the cargo had not been secured in accordance with the requirements of the company's operating certificate.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The crew initiated a VFR flight based on weather forecasts indicating that suitable weather conditions would exist for the duration of the flight.
- En route weather conditions deteriorated below those required for VFR flight.
- The flight was continued into below VFR weather conditions.
- During an attempt to navigate using the automatic direction finding equipment and to maintain visual reference with the ground, the pilot manoeuvred at a low altitude, and the aircraft struck the NDB tower.
- A wheels-up forced landing was carried out because the crew was having difficulty controlling the aircraft and was uncertain about the damage sustained in the collision.
- The passenger's injuries would have been reduced had a shoulder harness been worn.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Little Grand Rapids: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GVBS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
402B-1022
YOM:
1975
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Struck trees, lost height and crashed on an icy lake located near Little Grand Rapids. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Border Beacon

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GUBD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
747
YOM:
1954
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 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Wollaston Lake: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1986 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMPQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wollaston Lake - La Ronge
MSN:
1604
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
5500
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed the Welcome Bay ice strip at Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan. This was the second leg of a flight that originated at La Ronge, Saskatchewan. On board were two Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) pilots, another member of the force, and an inspector from the Saskatchewan Department of Public Works. Witnesses stated that the aircraft took off normally, levelled momentarily, then climbed steeply into cloud Moments later, they heard the engine noise increase abruptly, then decrease rapidly, followed by a sound similar to a backfire. When the aircraft reappeared, it was in a steep, nose down, right-wing-low attitude. It crashed on the ice, one mile north of Welcome Bay; all four occupants sustained fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- Aircraft control was lost for undetermined reasons.
- The pilot departed Wollaston Lake into known icing conditions in an aircraft that was not certified for flight into such conditions.
- There was no evidence of any airframe failure or system malfunction prior to or during the flight.
- The flight crew 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.
- The aircraft's weight and centre of gravity were within the prescribed limits.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-63CF in Gander: 256 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1985 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N950JW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cairo – Cologne – Gander – Fort Campbell
MSN:
46058
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
MF1285R
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
248
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
256
Captain / Total flying hours:
7001
Captain / Total hours on type:
1081.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5549
Copilot / Total hours on type:
918
Aircraft flight hours:
50861
Circumstances:
On 11 December 1985, Arrow Air Flight MF1285R, a Douglas DC-8-63, U.S. registration N950JW, departed Cairo, Egypt on an international charter flight to Fort Campbell, Kentucky (Ky), U.S.A. via Cologne, Germany, and Gander, Newfoundland. On board were 8 crew members and 248 passengers. The flight was the return portion of the second in a series of three planned troop rotation flights originating at McChord Air Force Base (AFB), Washington, U.S.A. and terminating in Fort Campbell. The flight had been chartered by the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) to transport troops, their personal effects, and some military equipment to and from peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert. All 248 passengers who departed Cairo on 11 December 1985 were members of 101st Airborne Division (United States Army), based in Fort Campbell. The flight departed Cairo at 2035 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and arrived at Cologne at 0121, 12 December 1985 for a planned technical stop. A complete crew change took place following which the flight departed for Gander at 0250. The flight arrived at Gander at 0904. Passengers were deplaned, the aircraft was refuelled, trash and waste water were removed, and catering supplies were boarded. The flight engineer was observed to conduct an external inspection of portions of the aircraft. The passengers then reboarded. Following engine start-up, the aircraft was taxied via taxiway "D" and runway 13 to runway 22 for departure. Take-off on runway 22 was begun from the intersection of runway 13 at 1015. The aircraft was observed to proceed down the runway and rotate in the vicinity of taxiway "A". Witnesses to the take-off reported that the aircraft gained little altitude after rotation and began to descend. Several witnesses, who were travelling on the Trans-Canada Highway approximately 900 feet beyond the departure end of runway 22, testified that the aircraft crossed the highway, which is at a lower elevation than the runway, at a very low altitude. Three described a yellow/orange glow emanating from the aircraft. Two of the witnesses testified that the glow was bright enough to illuminate the interior of the truck cabs they were driving. The third attributed the glow to the reflection of the runway approach lighting on the aircraft. Several witnesses observed the aircraft in a right bank as it crossed the Trans-Canada Highway. The pitch angle was also seen to increase, but the aircraft continued to descend until it struck downsloping terrain approximately 3,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a severe fuel-fed fire. All 256 occupants on board sustained fatal injuries.
Probable cause:
The Canadian Aviation Safety Board was unable to determine the exact sequence of events which led to this accident. The Board believes, however, that the weight of evidence supports the conclusion that, shortly after lift-off, the aircraft experienced an increase in drag and reduction in lift which resulted in a stall at low altitude from which recovery was not possible. The most probable cause of the stall was determined to be ice contamination on the leading edge and upper surface of the wing. Other possible factors such as a loss of thrust from the number four engine and inappropriate take-off reference speeds may have compounded the effects of the contamination.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Castlegar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GZTD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Victoria – Castlegar
MSN:
31-202
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a positioning flight from Victoria to Castlegar-West Kootenay Airport. On final, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Sentinel, few km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18 in Schefferville: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FCWM
Survivors:
No
MSN:
A-708
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Schefferville Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls when the aircraft crashed few km short of runway 36. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed, among them six US citizens from Chicago. Pilot incapacitation suspected.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo B in Table Mountain: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GNID
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Sydney - Stephenville
MSN:
31-7401256
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Sydney-J. A. Douglas McCurdy Airport on a survey flight to Stephenville. En route, it struck the slope of Table Mountain located about 17 km northwest of Channel-Port-aux-Basques. all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Inverness

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FFEL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
421A-0156
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Inverness, NS, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed, bursting into flames. There were no serious injuries among the occupants but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in McLeese Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GKQJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
31-350
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to McLeese Lake, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.