Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 4 January 2009
Aircraft Type: Basler BT-67 Turbo 67 (DC-3T)
Owner/operator: ALCI Aviation
Registration Number: C-GEAJ
Location: Tony Camp –
ÿ Antarctica
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Aircraft propellers, engines, flaps, and potentially landing gear.Aircraft propellers, engines, flaps, and potentially landing gear.
Category: Accident
A Douglas DC-3C Basler turbo-conversion aircraft experienced a ground impact during a trial approach run to Tony Camp, Antarctica. The aircraft descended unexpectedly, resulting in a collision with the ground. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, including propellers, engines, flaps, and potential landing gear damage.A Douglas DC-3C Basler turbo-conversion aircraft experienced a ground impact during a trial approach run to Tony Camp, Antarctica. The aircraft descended unexpectedly, resulting in a collision with the ground. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, including propellers, engines, flaps, and potential landing gear damage.
Description
The Douglas DC-3C Basler turbo-conversion aircraft was on a cargo flight from Novolazarevskaya Station to Tony Camp, transporting spare parts for the cross-country vehicles of a British expedition in Antarctica. The aircraft was flown to destination without incident, where it circled the camp twice for inspection fly-bys of the field. The aircraft was on a trial approach run at 200ft AGL, during which the contrast was poor and conditions were exacerbated by a sudden drop in visibility. The aircraft was inadvertently descended and it flew into the ground. The aircraft came to rest in an upright attitude and intact condition. Damage on initial inspection included both propellers, both engines, flaps and possible landing gear damage.
Primary Cause
Unexpected descent during a trial approach run due to poor visibility and contrast.Unexpected descent during a trial approach run due to poor visibility and contrast.Share on:
