Country
Canada

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 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Fort Franklin: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1984 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Nahanni Air Services
Registration:
C-FPPL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Norman - Fort Franklin
MSN:
115
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
NAS097
Location:
Fort Franklin
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
23645
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Fort Norman at 16:51 and arrived overhead Fort Franklin at approximately 17:15. Because Fort Franklin was shrouded in fog, a local resident contacted the pilot on a portable VHF transceiver and advised him that there was little or no visibility. The pilot replied that he did not think he would be able to land. The resident drove to the airstrip and contacted the pilot again when he heard the aircraft returning. He advised the pilot that visibility was 200-300 feet. The pilot then asked if this was the vertical or horizontal visibility. At that moment the Twin Otter struck a 200-foot-high telecommunications tower while in controlled level fight. Part of the right wing broke off and the aircraft slowly rolled over before striking the ground. The decision of the pilot to continue the approach in foggy weather were possibly influenced by the effects of stress and a greater than usual personal need to complete the flight. The stress was probably caused by the fact that the pilot had been involved in four accidents since March 1984. Although he was a very experienced pilot, his previous employer terminated his employment on 31 August 1984. In their opinion, his ability to make operational decisions was in question. The pilot was hired by Nahanni Air Services one month later.
Probable cause:
The following findings were reported:
- The weather at Fort Franklin was unsuitable for the flight,
- The flight was continued into weather below that which is required for VFR flight,
- An approach to the aerodrome was attempted using the radar altimeter to provide terrain clearance,
- The pilot descended to an altitude below the height of the telecommunications tower,
- A lack of official weather observations and of communications facilities at Fort Franklin deprived the pilot of reliable local weather information on which to base his decisions,
- There exists in the more remote areas of Canada a different attitude with regard to the assessment of risk in flight operations; it is likely that this attitude influenced the decisions and actions of the pilot,
- The operational decisions of the pilot may have been influenced by the effects of stress and a greater than usual personal need to complete the flight,
- Company management may have had a better appreciation of the risk potential associated with the recent events in the pilot's life, if they had more awareness of the effects of stress on performance.
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