Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 6 August 2019
Aircraft Type: Cessna 208B Supervan 900
Owner/operator: Alkan Air
Registration Number: C-FSKF
Location: 46 km ENE of Mayo Airport, YT (YMA) – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Cessna 208B AircraftCessna 208B Aircraft
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
On October 11, 2023, an Alkan Air Cessna 208B aircraft experienced a fatal accident during a routine flight from Mayo Airport to Rackla and Rau airstrips. The aircraft departed CYMA at 09:54, then flew a portion of its route along Granite Creek, reaching Rau Airstrip at 10:17. The pilot initiated a reverse route, entering Granite Creek at 4300 feet ASL, and flew at a speed of approximately 156 knots. Witnesses reported the aircraft flying near tree-top level and disappearing into the clouds. The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 30 seconds after takeoff, in a near-wings-level attitude with flaps up. The incident was caused by a combination of factors including pilot bias, poor weather conditions, reduced situational awareness, and ineffective terrain awareness systems.On October 11, 2023, an Alkan Air Cessna 208B aircraft experienced a fatal accident during a routine flight from Mayo Airport to Rackla and Rau airstrips. The aircraft departed CYMA at 09:54, then flew a portion of its route along Granite Creek, reaching Rau Airstrip at 10:17. The pilot initiated a reverse route, entering Granite Creek at 4300 feet ASL, and flew at a speed of approximately 156 knots. Witnesses reported the aircraft flying near tree-top level and disappearing into the clouds. The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 30 seconds after takeoff, in a near-wings-level attitude with flaps up. The incident was caused by a combination of factors including pilot bias, poor weather conditions, reduced situational awareness, and ineffective terrain awareness systems.

Description

The Alkan Air Cessna 208B aircraft was scheduled to depart Mayo Airport (CYMA), Canada, to conduct 4 flights under visual flight rules (VFR). First a return flight to Rackla Airstrip, then a return flight to Rau Airstrip. The pilot completed the first two flights with no issues. The aircraft departed CYMA on the third flight at 09:54. A portion of the recorded track was along Granite Creek at an altitude of 4200 feet ASL, which put the aircraft 100 to 200 feet above ground level (AGL) at the highest point along Granite Creek. The aircraft was observed flying eastbound along Granite Creek at low altitude and in reduced visibilities due to rain and cloud at about 10:05. The aircraft arrived at Rau Airstrip at 10:17, where the cargo was unloaded and different cargo loaded. A passenger boarded the aircraft for the final flight and was seated in the right seat in the cockpit. The aircraft departed Rau Airstrip at 11:01. The route of the fourth flight from Rau to CYMA was the reverse of the previous flight. The aircraft entered Granite Creek at 4300 feet ASL and was flying at a ground speed of 156 knots. Eyewitnesses at an exploration camp approximately halfway along Granite Creek heard and then observed the aircraft flying at near tree-top level. The cloud bases to the west of the exploration camp were at tree-top level. As it passed the exploration camp, the aircraft turned south into a box canyon, departing from the intended route. It headed toward rising terrain that led to the north face of Mount Albert. The aircraft began to climb and shortly thereafter was observed to disappear into the clouds and fog at 11:12. The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 30 seconds later, in a near wings-level attitude with the flaps in the up position. The 2 occupants were fatally injured on impact. The aircraft was destroyed. Findings as to causes and contributing factors 1. The pilot’s decision making was influenced by several biases and, as a result, the flight departed and subsequently continued into poor weather conditions in mountainous terrain. 2. The high speed at low altitude and low forward visibility reduced the opportunities for the pilot to take alternative action to avoid terrain. 3. Within the box canyon, the canyon floor elevation increased abruptly within less than 1 NM and the low visibility prevented the pilot from detecting this and taking sufficient actions to prevent collision with terrain. 4. When the pilot turned into the box canyon, the terrain awareness and warning system aural alerts were ineffective in warning the pilot about the rising terrain either because he had already heard multiple similar alerts in the preceding minutes, or because he had silenced the alerts.

Source of Information

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/alkan-air-aircraft-accident-1.5238183 , https://www.yukon-news.com/news/two-dead-after-plane-crashes-near-mayo/ , https://www.coastreporter.net/two-dead-in-small-plane-crash-in-central-yukon-alkan-air-1.23907829 , https://www.660citynews.com/2019/08/06/two-dead-in-small-plane-crash-in-central-yukon-alkan-air/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/alkan-air-aircraft-accident-1.5238183 , https://www.yukon-news.com/news/two-dead-after-plane-crashes-near-mayo/ , https://www.coastreporter.net/two-dead-in-small-plane-crash-in-central-yukon-alkan-air-1.23907829 , https://www.660citynews.com/2019/08/06/two-dead-in-small-plane-crash-in-central-yukon-alkan-air/

Primary Cause

Pilot bias and adverse weather conditions, specifically mountainous terrain and low visibility, led to a decision to deviate from the planned route and potentially increase the risk of a collision.Pilot bias and adverse weather conditions, specifically mountainous terrain and low visibility, led to a decision to deviate from the planned route and potentially increase the risk of a collision.

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