Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 19 March 1992
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
Owner/operator: NorOntair
Registration Number: C-GQKZ
Location: Red Lake Airport, ON (YRL) – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft engine controls, flight control systems, and aerodynamic stability.Aircraft engine controls, flight control systems, and aerodynamic stability.
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
A NorOntair flight experienced a catastrophic crash during taxi to the runway, resulting from improper short-takeoff and landing (STOL) procedures. The aircraft stalled at a height exceeding its performance envelope, leading to a sudden and uncontrolled descent and crash.A NorOntair flight experienced a catastrophic crash during taxi to the runway, resulting from improper short-takeoff and landing (STOL) procedures. The aircraft stalled at a height exceeding its performance envelope, leading to a sudden and uncontrolled descent and crash.

Description

The NorOntair flight was scheduled to proceed from Red Lake to Kenora, and then to Thunder Bay. There were no passengers for the leg to Kenora, but there were passengers scheduled to fly out of Kenora to Thunder Bay. During the taxi to the runway, the pre-takeoff checks were completed and the captain conducted the briefing for a standard ten-degree flap takeoff. He then decided to practice a short takeoff and landing (STOL) type takeoff. He informed the first officer, and selected the flaps to 30 degrees. The captain lined up on the button of runway 08. The engines were set to takeoff power and after approximately 300 feet of ground roll, the aircraft became airborne. Initially the aircraft climbed, and then it began to descend. It then climbed again, more steeply than before. Suddenly, at approximately 150 feet agl, the aircraft stopped climbing, descended in a steep nosedown attitude, and crashed half-way down the runway. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The Board determined that inappropriate short take-off and landing (STOL) take-off procedures were applied, which placed the aircraft in a flight regime outside of the aircraft performance envelope for sustained flight. The aircraft stalled at an altitude from which recovery was not possible. Contributing to the occurrence was the general acceptance of the use of STOL techniques as an approved procedure.”

Primary Cause

Inappropriate short-takeoff and landing (STOL) procedures were applied, resulting in flight regime outside the aircraft performance envelope.Inappropriate short-takeoff and landing (STOL) procedures were applied, resulting in flight regime outside the aircraft performance envelope.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

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