Incident Overview

Date: Friday 2 November 2001
Aircraft Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Owner/operator: Stage Air Ltd.
Registration Number: C-GGUH
Location: GenŠve-Cointrin Airport (GVA) – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft Control System (Approach Procedures)Aircraft Control System (Approach Procedures)
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
A Cessna Caravan (C-GGUH) experienced a near-miss incident on a visual flight rules flight from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik-Mike Zubko Airport, encountering IMC conditions. The pilot initiated an instrument approach to Runway 23, but lost situational awareness due to insufficient planning and lack of terrain awareness during the approach. The aircraft subsequently landed in an upright position in a terrain area.A Cessna Caravan (C-GGUH) experienced a near-miss incident on a visual flight rules flight from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik-Mike Zubko Airport, encountering IMC conditions. The pilot initiated an instrument approach to Runway 23, but lost situational awareness due to insufficient planning and lack of terrain awareness during the approach. The aircraft subsequently landed in an upright position in a terrain area.

Description

The Cessna Caravan, C-GGUH, was on a visual flight rules flight, at night, from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, to Inuvik-Mike Zubko Airport, when instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were encountered. Before entering the Inuvik control zone, the pilot contacted the air traffic controller and was issued an instrument approach clearance for runway 23 at 19:32 local time. During the approach the aircraft contacted a hill top four nautical miles north of the airport and came to rest in an upright position. The aircraft was substantially damaged; the pilot and the one passenger sustained minor injuries. Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors 1. The pilot did not adequately plan for the IFR approach, did not execute the approach in a manner so as to align the aircraft with the runway, and flew into terrain. 2. The pilot=s low comfort level with IFR procedures coupled with the relatively short time to organize for the assigned approach most likely resulted in the pilot losing situational awareness. 3. The pilot did not use the autopilot or the radar altimeter to reduce workload and provide terrain alerting during the approach.

Primary Cause

Insufficient planning and lack of terrain awareness during the approach.Insufficient planning and lack of terrain awareness during the approach.

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