De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

After takeoff from Bagua-El Valor Airport, while climbing, the aircraft exploded and crashed. All 21 occupants were killed. The aircraft was completing a special flight from Iquitos to Piura with an intermediate stop in Bagua on behalf of PetroPeru.

Few minutes after takeoff from Loja Airport, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. All 14 occupants were killed. The aircraft had a dual registration: civil HC-BCG and military FAE446.

The Twin Otter departed Goose Bay on a medical evacuation flight to St. Anthony. The flight was uneventful and landed in St. Anthony at 15:24. At 16:02, the aircraft departed St. Anthony on a VFR flight back to Goose Bay. On board were the two pilots and the doctor and nurse. Approaching the Goose Bay Airport, weather became marginal, but the crew continued visual flight. The crew likely encountered near zero forward visibility in snow showers and fog; it is probable that they were able to maintain vertical contact with the ground and were confident they could continue flight with visual reference to the ground. The crew may not have been able to see terrain ahead and therefore may not have been able to determine if the aircraft would clear the hills, particularly, when steep hills were encountered. The plane struck a rock outcropping 100 feet below the summit of a 2,050-foot mountain. After bouncing twice, the Twin Otter had come to rest in a small, wooded gully, approximately 350 feet from the initial point of impact.

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.

The aircraft crash landed after the pilot used flaps and power to semi control pitch after the elevator down control cable failed at about 300 feet agl on final approach. The left wing of the aircraft hit the terminal roof during the stall mush from 50 feet agl. The company is changing their aircraft control cables from steel to stainless steel to aid in the anti-corrosion and modifying their inspection period from 800 to 100 hours between inspections. The cable that separated failed from corrosion. No evidence of fatigue cracking or mechanical wear was found. Corrosion products were found within 2 inches of the serapation on both cable pieces.

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing past the runway end. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On approach to Córdoba-Pajas Blancas Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and was forced to initiate a go-around. During a second attempt to land, the aircraft was too low and crashed in a maize field, few km short of runway 18 threshold. All 15 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On approach to Paulatuk Airport, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with strong cross winds and blowing snow. On short final, while making a transition from visual to instruments flight rules, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around when the left wing struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft veered to the left and came to rest. The pilot and a passenger were killed while 10 other occupants were injured.

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

The airplane was on a specific point flight from Webequie to Lansdowne House, Ontario carrying five passengers and freight. The aircraft departed at approximately 1550LT (EST) and arrived at Lansdowne House about 1605. The flight, conducted under visual flight rules (VFR), was uneventful until it approached Lansdowne House, where deteriorating ceiling and visibility forced an altitude change from 2,500 feet to 1,500 feet above sea level (asl). Over Lansdowne House, the first officer relinquished control to the captain who was more familiar with the area. The aircraft approached from the north, and the captain planned a left hand visual approach to runway 26. He briefed the first officer to monitor the instruments and to get 200 feet on the reference “bug” on the radio altimeter, The captain flew the aircraft over the runway and completed a visual circuit; however, the aircraft was not in a position to land. The captain then initiated an overshoot and attempted another left visual circuit. The pilot flew a second circuit without losing sight of the airfield. He then turned toward the runway, called for 20° of flap and descended. As instructed, the first officer monitored the instruments while the aircraft turned on to the final approach. The pilot called “runway in sight", and shortly thereafter, the copilot observed the altimeter pass through 200 feet. Moments before impact, the captain reported to the first officer that he was encountering whiteout conditions and moved to advance the power levers. The aircraft was in line with the runway when it struck the snow-covered ice surface of the lake, about 1,200 feet short of the runway threshold. The aircraft bounced and struck some rocks on the shore. Fire broke out on impact. The elevation of the lake is 7 feet lower than that of the threshold. The accident occurred at 52° 12' 00" N, 87° 56' 00" W at 1620LT during the hours of daylight. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while one passenger suffered serious injuries and four others were killed. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.