Crash of a Beechcraft 99 Airliner in Webequie

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1997 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GXBE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Hope - Webequie
MSN:
U-160
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
BLS310
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Bearskin Flight 310, a Beech 99, was inbound to Webequie Airport (YWP) on a scheduled passenger flight from Fort Hope Airport (YFH). The flight crew completed an approach to Webequie based on visual cues, GPS and ADF. The flight crew lowered the landing gear about three miles from the runway and set full flap on final approach. The captain reportedly initiated the flare at about 50 feet and the nose of the aircraft came up, but the descent was not arrested before the aircraft struck the runway. The aircraft's wings and tail reportedly had a small amount of residual ice at landing. Winds on the surface were northwest at five to ten knots but the winds aloft were reported to be easterly at up to 50 knots. Examination of the aircraft at the terminal building led the crew to call company maintenance for an inspection. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the left wing spar was broken, the left wing skin was wrinkled and the left engine was drooping. There were no injuries reported.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Island Lake

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1997 at 1257 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FNKN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Winnipeg - Island Lake
MSN:
TC-296
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a firm touchdown on a gravel airstrip at Island Lake Airport, the crew heard a noise when the left wing dropped. Suspecting a left main gear failure, the captain initiated a go-around procedure and decided to divert to another airport with better facilities. Shortly later, the hydraulic pressure was lost and fuel quantity began to drop rapidly. The crew decided to return to land at Island Lake. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the aircraft veered off runway to the left before coming to rest. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. slid off the runway. The pilot reported a very strong cross wind and that he touched down with crab.
Probable cause:
The left main gear drag links may have failed in overload.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo B in Grand Manan

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1997 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FZVC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Yarmouth - Grand Manan
MSN:
31-7812038
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Grand Manan, New Brunswick, at 1938 Atlantic daylight time (ADT) on a charter flight to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, with the pilot and five passengers on board. After dropping off the passengers at Yarmouth, the aircraft departed at 2106 ADT for a night visual flight to return to Grand Manan. The pilot was unable to land at Grand Manan off the first visual approach because of low weather conditions and conducted a second visual approach. During the second approach, he noticed that he required increasing right rudder to maintain direction, and that the left engine manifold pressure was low. The pilot feathered the left propeller and, despite the application of full power on the right engine, the aircraft would not accelerate or climb. The aircraft began a shallow descent into a fog layer, and the aircraft collided with some trees, pitched nose-down, and struck the ground. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a post-impact fire. The pilot suffered serious injuries, but managed to get out of the aircraft and make his way to a nearby cabin where he was found by a ground search team about three hours later.
Probable cause:
The aircraft lost power on the left engine during the approach for undetermined reasons and descended into the ground. The cause of the engine power loss was not determined. The low airspeed, at the time of the engine power loss, decreased the time available to the pilot to secure the emergency in accordance with the POH, and contributed to the poor single-engine performance of the aircraft.
Final Report: