Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Medellín: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 2022 at 1015 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-5121
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Medellín – Pizarro
MSN:
31-7652004
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was chartered by the Grupo San Germán Express to carry a team of six people from Medellín to Pizarro, Chocó. Shortly after takeoff from runway 02 at Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, while in initial climb, the crew encountered engine problems. The airplane went out of control and crashed onto a house located in the district of Belén Rosales, less than 500 metres from the runway end, bursting into flames. The house and the aircraft were destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Julián Aladino, pilot,
Sergio Guevara Delgado, copilot.
Passengers:
Jorge Cantillo Martínez,
Dubán Ovalle Quintero,
Anthony Mosquera Blanquiceth,
Pedro Pablo Serna,
Melissa Pérez Cuadros,
Nicolás Jiménez.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Pluto Lake

Date & Time: Oct 13, 2022 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FDDX
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
165
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was flying to Pluto Lake to pick up a family from a fishing camp. On board were a pilot and a passenger. Upon landing on Pluto Lake, the airplane went out of control, lost its wings, plunged into the water and came to rest. The passenger was unhurt and the pilot was injured and airlifted to Chibougamau. This aircraft was already severely damaged in a previous accident on 20 June 1985. It was repaired and returned into service more than 18 years later.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander on Moa Island

Date & Time: Oct 3, 2022 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-WQA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saibai Island - Horn Island
MSN:
494
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a routine school charter flight from Saibai Island to Horn Island. En route, the pilot encountered engine troubles and was forced to shut down one engine. He reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing on Moa Island when the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area. The tail section separated upon impact and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Fortunately, all seven occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Porto Trombetas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 2022
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-MES
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porto Trombetas - Ayaramã
MSN:
208B-0507
YOM:
1996
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Porto Trombetas Airport, the pilot encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crashed in a wooded area and was destroyed. The pilot was killed and all four passengers were injured. They were en route to Ayaramã to provide dental assistance to locals. On board were one dentist, one assistant, one nurse and one employee of the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3T Otter into the Mutiny Bay: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 2022 at 1509 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N725TH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Friday Harbor – Renton
MSN:
466
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
3686
Captain / Total hours on type:
1300.00
Aircraft flight hours:
24430
Circumstances:
On September 4, 2022, about 1509 Pacific daylight time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3 (Otter), N725TH, was destroyed when it impacted the water in Mutiny Bay, near Freeland, Washington, and sank. The pilot and nine passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by Northwest Seaplanes, Inc., and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 scheduled passenger flight by West Isle Air dba Friday Harbor Seaplanes. The flight originated at Friday Harbor Seaplane Base (W33), Friday Harbor, Washington, with an intended destination of Will Rogers Wiley Post Memorial Seaplane Base (W36), Renton, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The accident pilot was scheduled to fly the accident airplane on three multiple leg roundtrips on the day of the accident. The first roundtrip flight was uneventful; it departed from W36 about 0930, made four stops, and returned about 1215. The accident occurred during the pilot’s second trip of the day. A review of recorded automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the second roundtrip departed 36 about 1253 and arrived at Lopez Seaplane Base, (W81), Lopez Island, Washington, about 1328.2 The data showed that the flight then departed W81 and landed at Roche Harbor Seaplane Base (W39) about 1356. The airplane departed W39 about 1432, arrived at W33 about 1438, and departed about 1450. According to ADS-B data, after the airplane departed W33, it flew a southerly heading before turning south-southeast. The en route altitude was between 600 and 1,000 ft above mean sea level (msl), and the groundspeed was between 115 and 135 knots. At 1508:40, the altitude was 1,000 ft msl, and the groundspeed had decreased to 111 knots. Based on performance calculations, at 1508:43, the airplane pitched up about 8° and then abruptly pitched down about 58°. The data ended at 1508:51, when the airplane’s altitude was 600 ft msl and the estimated descent rate was more than 9,500 ft per minute (the flightpath of the airplane is depicted in figure. Witnesses near the accident site reported, and security camera video confirmed, the airplane was in level flight before it entered a slight climb and then pitched down. One witness described the descent as “near vertical” and estimated the airplane was in an 85° nose-down attitude before impact with the water. Several witnesses described the airplane as “spinning,” “rotating,” or “spiraling” during portions of the steep descent. One witness reported hearing the engine/propeller and noted that he did not hear any “pitch change” in the sounds. The airplane continued in a nose-low, near-vertical descent until it impacted water in Mutiny Bay.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of this accident was the in-flight unthreading of the clamp nut from the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator barrel due to a missing lock ring, which resulted in the horizontal stabilizer moving to an extreme trailing-edge-down position rendering the airplane’s pitch uncontrollable.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Turbo Stationair 8 into Lake Powell: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 2022 at 1609 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N9582M
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Page - Page
MSN:
207-0705
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Page on a local sightseeing flight, carrying one pilot and six French tourists. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed into Lake Powell. Two passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured, three seriously.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver I in Anchorage

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2022 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9776R
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Anchorage - King Salmon
MSN:
1126
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1709
Captain / Total hours on type:
142.00
Aircraft flight hours:
16072
Circumstances:
The pilot reported that, he was departing in the float-equipped airplane in strong gusty wind conditions. After accelerating on the water for about 3 seconds, the airplane suddenly became airborne and crabbed into the wind about 60° to 90° from the intended takeoff path and started to climb as it continued to track away from the intended flight path. As the climb continued, the airplane stalled and impacted the water in a nose low attitude which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause:
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions which resulted in the wing exceeding its critical angle of attack, a loss of control and impact with the water.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Dry Bay

Date & Time: May 24, 2022 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N703TH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yakutat – Dry Bay
MSN:
456
YOM:
1965
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
24000
Captain / Total hours on type:
6100.00
Circumstances:
The purpose of the flight was to transport three passengers and cargo. The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airplane’s tail came up slightly lowered to the runway when he attempted to raise the tail by applying forward elevator. He stated that he thought this was unusual and attributed it to an aft-loaded airplane. He applied additional nose-down trim and departed without incident. While en route, the tail of the airplane seemed to move up and down, which the pilot attributed to turbulence. Upon arrival at his destination, the pilot entered a left downwind, reduced the power and extended the flaps to 10° abeam the end of the runway. He turned onto the base leg about ½ mile from the approach end of the runway and slowed the airplane to 80 mph. Turning final, he noticed the airplane seemed to pitch up, so he applied full nose-down pitch trim and extended the flaps an additional 10°. On short final he applied full flaps, and the airplane abruptly pitched up to about a 45° angle. He stated that he applied full nose-down elevator, verified the pitch trim, and reduced the power to idle. When the airplane was about 300 ft above ground level, the airplane stalled, the left wing dropped slightly, and the airplane entered about a 45° nose-down dive. After allowing the airplane to gain airspeed, the pilot applied full back elevator. The airplane impacted forested terrain near the approach end of runway 23 at an elevation of about 18 ft. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Elevator and rudder control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the respective control surfaces. The airplane's estimated gross weight at the time of the accident was about 7,796 lbs and the airplane's estimated center of gravity was about 3.2 to 5.6 inches beyond the approved aft limit. Maximum gross weight for the airplane is 8,000 lbs.
Probable cause:
The pilot’s failure to determine the actual weight and balance of the airplane before departure, which resulted in the airplane being operated outside of the aft center of gravity limits and the subsequent aerodynamic stall on final approach. Contributing to the accident was the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to require weight and balance documentation for 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 single-engine operations.
Final Report:

Crash of a Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter 400 near Nanga Eboko: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 2022
Operator:
Registration:
TJ-TIM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yaoundé – Dompta – Belabo
MSN:
934
YOM:
2015
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Yaoundé at 1246LT on a charter flight to Dompta and Belabo, carrying 9 employees of the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO) and two crew members. En route, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near the village of Nanga Eboko. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Lake Seul

Date & Time: Mar 8, 2022 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GIPR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sioux Lookout – Springpole Lake
MSN:
208-0343
YOM:
2001
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1315
Captain / Total hours on type:
126.00
Circumstances:
On 08 March 2022, the Bamaji Air Inc. (Bamaji) wheel-equipped Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft (registration C-GIPR, serial number 20800343) was conducting a series of visual flight rules (VFR) flights from Sioux Lookout Airport (CYXL), Ontario. At 1031, after checking the aerodrome forecast (TAF) valid from 0900 to 2000, and the graphic area forecast (GFA) valid from 0600 to 1800, the pilot departed on a flight to an ice runway on Springpole Lake, Ontario, about 78 nautical miles (NM) north-northwest of CYXL. The aircraft returned to CYXL with 2 passengers at 1200. In preparation for a second flight to Springpole Lake, the pilot loaded approximately 900 pounds of freight into the cabin and secured it under a cargo net. The aircraft had 750 pounds of fuel remaining on board, which was sufficient for the planned flight. The pilot and 1 passenger boarded the aircraft. The pilot occupied the left cockpit seat and the passenger occupied the right cockpit seat. Both occupants were wearing the available 5-point-harness safety belt system. At 1250, a snow squall began to move across CYXL, reducing ground visibility. The pilot taxied the aircraft to a position on the apron and waited for the fast-moving snow squall to pass. At 1301, the pilot taxied the aircraft to Runway 34 and took off in visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft climbed to approximately 1800 feet above sea level (ASL), then, once clear of the control zone, it descended to approximately 1600 to 1700 feet ASL, roughly 500 to 600 feet above ground level (AGL), to remain below the overcast ceiling. As the aircraft began to cross Lac Seul, Ontario, the visibility straight ahead and to the west was good. However, when the aircraft was roughly midway across the lake, it encountered turbulence and immediately became enveloped in whiteout conditions generated by a snow squall. The pilot turned his head to inspect the left wing and saw that ice appeared to be accumulating on the leading edge. He turned his attention back to the flight instruments and saw that the altimeter was descending rapidly. He then pulled back on the control column to stop the descent; however, within a few seconds, the aircraft struck the frozen surface of Lac Seul, approximately 17 NM north-northwest of CYXL. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire. The aircraft occupants received minor injuries. The Artex Model Me406 emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated on impact and the signal was detected by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ontario, re-tasked a Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft that was in the area and 3 search and rescue technicians (SAR Techs) parachuted into the site within 1 hour of the accident. The aircraft occupants and the SAR Techs were extracted from the site by a civilian helicopter later that day.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred while the aircraft was crossing a large, frozen, snow-covered lake at low altitude. Other than some small islands and the distant treed shorelines, there were few features to provide visual references. The terrain, coupled with the snow squalls that were passing through the area generated circumstances conducive to the creation of localized whiteout conditions.
Final Report: