Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest in Fort Frances

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1994 at 0425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N441CA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Milwaukee – Fort Frances – God’s Lake Narrows
MSN:
441-0046
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4800
Captain / Total hours on type:
40.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2447
Circumstances:
The pilot of the Cessna 441 Conquest was conducting an international charter flight from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Gods Lake Narrows, Manitoba. The pilot landed the aircraft at Fort Frances, Ontario, to clear customs and refuel, and then continued his visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Gods Lake Narrows. During the take-off at Fort Frances, the aircraft experienced a power loss in the left engine. The pilot elected to continue the take-off but was unable to control the aircraft after it became airborne. The aircraft veered to the left and crashed on the airfield. The accident occurred at 0425 central daylight time (CDT), at night, on the Fort Frances Municipal Airport. All seven occupants sustained minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot lost control of the aircraft during take-off when the left engine lost power as a result of bird ingestion. Contributing to the loss of aircraft control were a take-off weight in excess of the maximum allowable, and a centre of gravity aft of the centre of gravity limit.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 748-234-2A in Sandy Lake: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1993 at 1805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GQTH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Winnipeg – Sandy Lake – Saint Theresa Point – Island Lake – Winnipeg
MSN:
1617
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
7N205
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
16000
Captain / Total hours on type:
4500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1100
Aircraft flight hours:
29284
Circumstances:
The aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley 748 Series 2A Model 234 (HS 748) owned and operated by Air Manitoba Ltd. (Air Manitoba), took off from Winnipeg at 1438 central standard time (CST) , 10 November 1993, on scheduled flight NAM 205/ 206 that included stops at Sandy Lake, Ontario; St. Theresa Point, Manitoba; Island Lake, Manitoba; and return to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The flight was conducted in accordance with an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan and flight notification. On arrival at Sandy Lake at approximately 1549, the crew attempted to land but were unable to because of the low ceiling and visibility. They then diverted to St. Theresa Point, landing at 1630. A normal turnaround was completed; the number of passengers on departure was 26, and 2,086 pounds of fuel was uploaded to an estimated total of 6,700 pounds on board. The flight departed St. Theresa Point for Sandy Lake at 1720. The aircraft landed at approximately 1745 at Sandy Lake, where 22 passengers deplaned while four remained on board; the aircraft was not refuelled or otherwise serviced at Sandy Lake. During the stop, both engines were shut down. On take-off from Sandy Lake, there were two pilots, a flight attendant, and four passengers on board. The aircraft took off from runway 29 at Sandy Lake at approximately 1805 and entered a right turn. Witnesses indicate that the aircraft appeared to fly at a lower than normal height throughout the turn. After turning through approximately 120 degrees(°), the aircraft descended into 100-foot trees and crashed. The aircraft struck the ground about one nautical mile (nm) northwest of the airport. All seven occupants of the aircraft were fatally injured in the crash. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness. The wreckage was located at position latitude 53°04'71"N, longitude 93°21'38"W, at an elevation of approximately 940 feet above sea level (asl).
Probable cause:
After take-off, the crew most likely lost situational awareness and, as a result, did not detect the increasing deviation from their intended flight path. Contributing to the loss of situational awareness was the lack of AC power to some of the flight instruments; the reason for the lack of AC power could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Nibinamik: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1993 at 2015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GSWG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Steinbach - Webequie
MSN:
31-492
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Steinbach to Webequie, the pilot informed ATC about his position some 64 km north of Pickle Lake. Few minutes later, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Nibinamik, southwest of Webequie. The wreckage was found on September 23 in an isolated area. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Ottawa

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1991
Operator:
Registration:
N285L
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
565
YOM:
1964
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
13463
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Ottawa Airport. The pilot, sole on board, was injured. The aircraft was on a delivery flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Sandridge Lake: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-GJKA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1481
YOM:
1961
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Sandridge Lake. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four 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 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain off Pelée Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1989 at 2300 LT
Registration:
C-GSWC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pelée Island - Windsor
MSN:
31-7305067
YOM:
1973
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was dispatched at Pelée Airport to evacuate to Windsor a patient. On board were one patient, his spouse, one ambulance officer and two pilots. Shortly after a night takeoff from runway 28, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in Lake Erie. The copilot and the patient survived while three other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000 in Dryden: 24 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1989 at 1209 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FONF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thunder Bay - Dryden - Winnipeg
MSN:
11060
YOM:
1972
Flight number:
GX1363
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
65
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
24100
Captain / Total hours on type:
82.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
65
Aircraft flight hours:
20852
Aircraft flight cycles:
23773
Circumstances:
Air Ontario Flight 1363, a Fokker F-28 jet, crashed during takeoff from Dryden Municipal Airport, Ontario, Canada. Of the 69 persons on board, 24 suffered fatal injuries. The aircraft in question, registration C-FONF, had suffered from a malfunctioning auxiliary power unit (APU) for the five days preceding the accident. Throughout the week preceding March 10, Air Ontario maintenance attempted, with limited success, to cure the APU problems. On March 9 it was decided to defer the repair of the APU until the aircraft returned to Toronto on the night of March 10. This meant that the aircraft was dispatched with the APU inoperable. On the morning of March 10, C-FONF departed Winnipeg on a round trip flight to Dryden, Thunder Bay and back as flight 1362/3. Since no external power unit was available at Dryden, the engines couldn't be restarted in case of engine shutdown on the ground. The flight to Thunder Bay was uneventful apart from a slight delay due to poor weather at Thunder Bay. As the aircraft was prepared for the return flight, it appeared that the aircraft was overweight as a result of ten additional passengers having transferred to the flight due to an earlier cancellation. The Air Ontario duty manager decided to off-load fuel and to arrange refuelling at Dryden. This caused an additional delay of 35 minutes. The Fokker F-28 departed Thunder Bay at 11:55 hours EST, about one hour behind schedule. The aircraft landed at Dryden at 11:39 hours CST. It began to snow lightly when the aircraft landed. Between 11:40 and 12:01, Air Ontario 1363 was refuelled with the right engine operating and with the passengers remaining on board the aircraft. This so called 'hot refuelling' procedure was followed because the APU was unserviceable. Eight passengers deplaned in Dryden and seven passengers boarded the aircraft. Meanwhile, snow was accumulating on the wings, forming a layer of 1/8-1/4 inch. No de-icing was done because de-icing with either engine running was prohibited by both Fokker and Air Ontario. The aircraft then taxied to runway 29 for departure, but was instructed to hold as there was a Cessna 150 on approach. The snow was continuing to fall heavily, becoming increasingly thick on the wings. At 12:09 the aircraft started it's takeoff roll on the slush-covered runway 29. There was an accumulation of at least one-half inch of wet, layered snow on the wings of the F-28 as it began its takeoff roll. After a longer than normal takeoff roll, the aircraft was rotated near taxiway Alpha, at approximately the 3500 foot mark. The aircraft lifted off slightly, began to shudder, and then settled back down onto the runway. The takeoff roll then continued and the aircraft was rotated a second time, finally lifting off at approximately the 5700 mark of the 6000 foot runway. It flew over the end of the runway approximately 15 feet above the ground. It thereafter failed to gain altitude and mushed through the air in a nose-high attitude, before commencing to strike trees. The aircraft crashed and came to rest in a wooded area, 3156 feet past the runway end and caught fire.
Probable cause:
The captain, as the pilot-in-command, must bear responsibility for the decision to land and take off in Dryden on the day in question. However, it is equally clear that the air transportation system failed him by allowing him to be placed in a situation where he did not have all the necessary tools that should have supported him in making the proper decision.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air in Chapleau: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1988 at 2301 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GJUL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Timmins - Chapleau
MSN:
B-218
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
VC796
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
9420
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was dispatched from Timmins to Chapleau on an ambulance flight, carrying two medical staffs and two pilots. A patient should be boarded in Chapleau and transferred to Sault Sainte Marie. Following an uneventful flight at FL120, the crew started a night descent to Chapleau. On a final NDB approach, the aircraft struck the ground and crashed 2,5 km southwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The flight crew descended below the minimum applicable IFR altitude while approaching the Chapleau NDB. It could not be determined why the crew allowed the aircraft to descend, in controlled flight, into the ground.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Pikangikum: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1988 at 1302 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-FBJE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Red Lake - Pikangikum
MSN:
13453
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
GX937
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
22884
Circumstances:
A Douglas DC-3C was destroyed when it crashed in Pikangikum Lake, ON, Canada. Both the pilot and the co-pilot were fatally injured in the accident. The airplane departed Red Lake Airport, ON (YRL) as Air Ontario flight 937 on a flight to Pikangikum Airport, ON (YPM). The main cargo load being carried consisted of a rubberized bladder tank containing 2,068 litres of fuel oil. Weather at the Pikangikum Airport was poor with drizzle, low clouds, and fog, with a visibility of one and one-half to two miles. The airplane was heard overflying the airport and turning over the Pikangikum Lake in preparation for a final approach and landing on runway 27. While over the water the airplane stalled and struck the ice-covered lake 180 feet south of a tree-covered island. It descended through the ice and struck the lake bottom at a depth of 8 to 12 feet. The ice thickness at the area of impact varied from one inch to three inches. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It is probable that the aircraft stalled at an altitude and in flight conditions from which recovery was not possible.