Incident Overview
Date: Friday 26 September 1997
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
Owner/operator: Deh Cho Air
Registration Number: C-FZKW
Location: Trout Lake, NWT –
ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: FloatFloat
Category: Accident
A float-equipped aircraft experienced a sudden and severe impact with a sand bar during approach, resulting in a cartwheel and subsequent sinking. The pilot misjudged the approach, leading to a forceful collision with the sand bar.A float-equipped aircraft experienced a sudden and severe impact with a sand bar during approach, resulting in a cartwheel and subsequent sinking. The pilot misjudged the approach, leading to a forceful collision with the sand bar.
Description
On the approach, the float-equipped aircraft contacted the surface of the water prematurely, bounced and struck a sand bar that extended across the flight path. The right float then separated and the left float was driven up into the wing. The aircraft cartwheeled and sank nose first in about six feet of water. The water was calm, as was the wind, and the sky was overcast with moderate rain. The pilot reported that he was using the sand bar as a reference point during the approach, and had planned to pass over it and land on the water. However, he misjudged the approach, struck the water heavily, bounced and skidded across the sand bar.
Primary Cause
Misjudgment of approach and subsequent collision with the sand bar.Misjudgment of approach and subsequent collision with the sand bar.Share on:
