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Crash of a Pilatus PC-12/47E in Whitehorse

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2023 at 1039 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-12
Operator:
Registration:
C-GMPX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Whitehorse – Yellowknife
MSN:
1017
YOM:
2008
Location:
Whitehorse
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Whitehorse-Erik Nielsen Airport Runway 32L on a positioning flight to Yellowknife. Shortly after takeoff, he declared an emergency and attempted to return. On short final, he lost control of the airplane that crashed within the airport boundary. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Crash of a Cessna 208 Caravan I in Lake Teslin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 2000 at 2357 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208A Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
C-GMPB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Prince Rupert – Teslin Lake – Dease Lake
MSN:
208-0082
YOM:
1986
Location:
Teslin Lake
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3768
Captain / Total hours on type:
282.00
Circumstances:
A Cessna 208 Caravan I on amphibious floats, C-GMPB, serial number 20800082, was ferrying members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Emergency Response Team from Teslin, Yukon, to a site on the south end of Teslin Lake, British Columbia. At about 1645 Pacific daylight time, three team members, two dogs, and gear were unloaded on a gravel bar across from the mouth of the Jennings River. The aircraft departed for the Teslin airport at about 2355 with the pilot and one RCMP engineer on board. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft was seen to pitch up into a steep climb, stall, then descend at a steep angle into the water. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot and the passenger were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. The pilot's decision to depart from the unlit location was likely the result of the many psychological and physiological stressors encountered during the day.
2. The pilot most likely experienced spatial disorientation-precipitated by local geographic and environmental conditions-and lost control of the aircraft.
Findings as to Risk:
1. Without a safety management program that routinely disseminates safety information, RCMP pilots may be inadequately sensitized to the limitations of decision making and judgement.
2. The RCMP had no current, concise standard operating procedures (SOPs) for its non-604 operations. Without useable SOPs, the pilots in some instances operate without clearly established limits and outside of acceptable tolerances.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Colville Lake

Date & Time: May 27, 1989 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMPH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Colville Lake - Fort Good Hope
MSN:
319
YOM:
1971
Location:
Colville Lake
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from a gravel airstrip at Colville Lake, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with an airport building. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1986 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMPQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Wollaston Lake - La Ronge
MSN:
1604
YOM:
1965
Location:
Wollaston Lake
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
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 De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Ile-à-la-Crosse

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1976
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMPW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Prince Albert – Buffalo Narrows
MSN:
271
YOM:
1958
Location:
Ile-à-la-Crosse
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
13435
Circumstances:
The Otter had taken off that day from Prince Albert on a flight to Buffalo Narrows. Six miles north of Ile-à-la-Crosse, following an engine failure, the pilot made a forced landed in the bush and the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. The flight had proceeded for one hour forty minutes without incident when there was a loud bang from the engine, followed by a complete power loss. Smoke was emitted into the cockpit and the pilot commenced a forced landing. Attempts to regain power were to no avail and the pilot transmitted a mayday, which was acknowledged by another aircraft. The Otter touched down in a semi-clear area in bush country in a nose high, full flap configuration. The pilot and passenger evacuated the Otter fearing a post crash fire, however none followed. They were located by a rescue party a short time after the crash.
Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com & Karl E. Hayes.
Probable cause:
The power loss was the result of a failure of the master rod and link rods.

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

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1971
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
CF-MPZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
328
YOM:
1960
Location:
Deer Lake
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Deer Lake Airport. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Carmacks: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1963 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
CF-MPO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mayo – Whitehorse
MSN:
359
YOM:
1952
Location:
Carmacks
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The RCMP's pilot and three policemen were transferring a prisoner from Mayo to Whitehorse. While approaching Carmacks in good weather conditions, the pilot was making a circuit to land when the airplane rolled over and spun into the ground. It crashed in a bank just below the Mayo Road at a location approximately in between the Territorial Garage and the Carmacks bridge. The burned wreckage was found by the Yukon River and all five occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as good.
Crew:
Sgt K. M. Laughland,
Cpl R. W. Asbil,
Const P. L. A. Malcolm,
Const W. J. L. Annand.
Passenger:
Joseph Phillipe Clement Desormeaux.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it was established that no mechanical failure occurred on the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot was skilled and it is believed that the loss of control may have been caused by local downdrafts or by a stall due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Okanagan Falls: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1958
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
CF-FHW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
58
YOM:
1949
Location:
Okanagan Falls
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a patrol flight, taking part to a search for a murder suspect. In flight, the single engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain bordering the Skaha Lake, near Okanagan Falls. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Sioux Lookout

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
CF-MPE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16
YOM:
1938
Location:
Sioux Lookout
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A gear failed upon landing at Sioux Lookout. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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