Country
Canada

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Macara: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1981 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
FAE457
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Quito - Macará
MSN:
457
YOM:
1975
Location:
Macará
Loja
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Quito to Macará, carrying members of the Ecuadorian government, Army Officers and journalists who were flying to the south of the country, taking part to the next official visit of the President of the Republic of Ecuador Jaime Roldós Aguilera. While descending to Macará, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. Too low, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed few km from Macará. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 18 occupants were killed. The airplane had a dual registration FAE457 and HC-BAX.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter at North Station

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1981
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
CF-DHT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
130
YOM:
1968
Location:
North Ice Camp
Northeast Greenland National Park
Country:
Greenland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing about 35 miles east of North Ice Camp, one of the wheels broke through the ice. The aircraft came to rest and was abandoned. No one was injured. The airplane was engaged in a scientific mission on behalf of the University of Washington.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Galt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1981
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-FCSV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
354
YOM:
1973
Location:
Galt
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight on behalf of the Canadian Department of Transport. While flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the crew encountered engine problems. The airplane lost speed and height then struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. A crew member was seriously injured while two others were killed. It was reported that the right propeller was feathered at impact while smoke was coming from the left engine.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Iliniza

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1980
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
FAE453
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
453
YOM:
1975
Location:
Mt Illiniza (24 Mayo)
Cotopaxi
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on Mt Illiniza near the 24 Mayo Airstrip. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The airplane had a dual registration FAE453 and HC-BAV.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Santiago de Chile: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1980
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
943
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
396
YOM:
1974
Location:
Santiago de Chile
Región Metropolitana de Santiago
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located 40 km east of Santiago-Los Cerrillos Airport. A passenger was killed while 16 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Oroque: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Anson Drilling Company
Registration:
HK-1710-W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Cúcuta
MSN:
252
YOM:
1969
Location:
Oroque
Norte de Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Barranquilla-Ernesto Cortissoz Airport under VFR mode. En route, weather conditions worsened and while cruising at 11,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Oroque. The wreckage was found three days later and all four occupants were killed, among them two Mexican employees of the Anson Drilling Company, a Colombian Group specialized in Oil and Petroleum business.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Nome: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N8061V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nome - Shishmaref
MSN:
294
YOM:
1970
Location:
Nome
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3453
Captain / Total hours on type:
731.00
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Nome on a VFR flight to Shishmaref, about 122 miles to the north. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls, limited visibility (night) and icing conditions. The airplane struck the slope of a mountain located to the north of Nome. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found. The wreckage was localized on February 10, 1980. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four occupants have been found dead.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain during normal cruise after the crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Snow covered terrain,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Fog,
- Special VFR flight.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1979 at 1703 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N23BC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Tau
MSN:
431
YOM:
1974
Location:
Tau
All Samoa Islands
Country:
Samoa Islands (Western Samoa)
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6979
Captain / Total hours on type:
1073.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tau Airport, the copilot failed to call out low airspeed. Following an improper level off, the airplane bounced on landing then veered off runway and collided with trees. All 18 occupants were rescued, among them one passenger was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Hard landing and subsequent collision with trees due to improper level off. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- The copilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The copilot did not call out low airspeed on final.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Big Trout Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1979
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
C-GTJA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pickle Lake - Big Trout Lake
MSN:
630
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
UH607
Location:
Big Trout Lake
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Big Trout Lake Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. On final, the twin engine airplane struck an NDB tower and crashed. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while nine other occupants were injured. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.
Subscribe to De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter