Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Cartwright: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 2010 at 0930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-FZSD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Goose Bay - Cartwright - Black Tickle - Goose Bay
MSN:
31-7405233
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9000
Circumstances:
Aircraft departed on a round trip flight from Goose Bay to Cartwright and Black Tickle before returning to Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. The pilot was to deliver freight to Cartwright as well as a passenger and some freight to Black Tickle. At approximately 0905, the pilot made a radio broadcast advising that the aircraft was 60 nautical miles west of Cartwright. No further radio broadcasts were received. The aircraft did not arrive at destination and, at 1010, was reported as missing. The search for the aircraft was hampered by poor weather. On 28 May 2010, at about 2200, the aircraft wreckage was located on a plateau in the Mealy Mountains. Both occupants of the aircraft were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. There was no emergency locator transmitter on board and, as such, no signal was received.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. The pilot conducted a visual flight rules (VFR) flight into deteriorating weather in a mountainous region.
2. The pilot lost visual reference with the ground and the aircraft struck the rising terrain in level, controlled flight.
Findings as to Risk:
1. When an aircraft is not equipped with a functioning emergency locator transmitter (ELT), the ability to locate the aircraft in a timely manner is hindered.
2. Not applying current altimeter settings along a flight route, particularly from an area of high to low pressure, may result in reduced obstacle clearance.
3. Without a requirement for terrain awareness warning systems, there will be a continued risk of accidents of this type.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Cartwright

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FOCG
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30
YOM:
1948
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances upon landing in Cartwright. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Sandwich Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-FAN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gander – Cartwright
MSN:
22023
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
At 1317LT, the aircraft took off from Gander, Newfoundland, with a crew of three and a cargo of freight on a charter flight to Cartwright, Labrador. The aircraft was seen approaching to land in Sandwich Bay near Cartwright Harbor with the main undercarriage extended. The aircraft appeared to come to a sudden stop immediately after the wheels touched the water and the tail of the aircraft was seen to rise to a vertical position and settle back at an angle of about 45 degrees. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft crashed on the water through failure on the part of the pilot-in-command to ensure that the main undercarriage was retracted.
Final Report: