Incident Overview

Date: Monday 11 May 1987
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47J (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Northland Air Manitoba
Registration Number: C-FADD
Location: 3 km W of Pickle Lake, ON – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Left wingLeft wing
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
A Douglas DC-3C aircraft, en route from Pickle Lake to Big Trout Lake, experienced a sudden and catastrophic landing at Pickle Lake due to a structural failure of the left wing. The pilot initiated an NDB approach, and subsequent observation revealed a downward descent with the left wing folded upwards, culminating in a ground impact.A Douglas DC-3C aircraft, en route from Pickle Lake to Big Trout Lake, experienced a sudden and catastrophic landing at Pickle Lake due to a structural failure of the left wing. The pilot initiated an NDB approach, and subsequent observation revealed a downward descent with the left wing folded upwards, culminating in a ground impact.

Description

Douglas DC-3C C-FADD was returning to Pickle Lake from Big Trout Lake following delivery of a cargo of fuel. This was the third similar and last operation of the day. As the aircraft approached Pickle Lake, the pilot informed the company dispatch office that, prior to landing, he intended to carry out some local training for the benefit of the co-pilot who was scheduled to be upgraded to captain status the following month. The captain, a company training pilot, occupied the right seat. The aircraft entered a west to east holding pattern at the airport’s NDB, descending in stages from 8,500 feet asl to 2,700 feet asl, the appropriate altitude for an instrument approach. The pilot transmitted that they would execute an NDB approach and subsequently reported during the procedure turn inbound to the airfield. About three minutes later, two other pilots flying in the vicinity observed the aircraft in a descent with the left wing folded upwards. The aircraft continued descending in an inverted attitude until it struck the ground. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The Canadian Aviation Safety Board determined that the left wing failed under normal flight loads as a result of a fatigue crack in the centre section lower wing skin. Anomalies in the radiographs taken during mandatory non-destructive testing inspections were not correctly interpreted.”

Primary Cause

Fatigue crack in the centre section lower wing skin.Fatigue crack in the centre section lower wing skin.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *