Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 21 February 1995
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft A100 King Air
Owner/operator: Bearskin Airlines
Registration Number: C-GYQT
Location: 4,8 km NW of Big Trout Airport, ON (YTL) – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: Aircraft Navigation System (Altimeters, Vertical Speed Indicators)Aircraft Navigation System (Altimeters, Vertical Speed Indicators)
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
A Beechcraft A100, operated by Bearskin Airlines, experienced a serious crash due to whiteout conditions and a crew’s failure to adequately utilize navigational aids. The aircraft descended into a frozen lake, resulting in injuries to all eleven passengers and crew members. Rescuers were able to reach the aircraft within a short timeframe.A Beechcraft A100, operated by Bearskin Airlines, experienced a serious crash due to whiteout conditions and a crew’s failure to adequately utilize navigational aids. The aircraft descended into a frozen lake, resulting in injuries to all eleven passengers and crew members. Rescuers were able to reach the aircraft within a short timeframe.

Description

The Bearskin Airlines Beechcraft A100 was on a regular scheduled flight, under visual flight rules, to Big Trout Airport, ON (YTL), with nine passengers and a crew of two on board. The crew were flying the aircraft over a lake about four miles northwest of the airport for a landing on runway 14 when whiteout conditions were encountered. The aircraft descended in controlled flight into the frozen surface of the lake. The crew and several passengers sustained serious injuries. Rescuers from the local community reached the aircraft about two hours after the crash and all eleven survivors were rescued within four hours. CAUSES: While the crew were manoeuvring the aircraft to land and attempting to maintain visual flying conditions in reduced visibility, their workload was such that they missed, or unknowingly discounted, critical information provided by the altimeters and vertical speed indicators. Contributing factors were the whiteout conditions and the crew’s decision to fly a visual approach at low altitude over an area where visual cues were minimal and visibility was reduced.

Source of Information

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/1995/a95c0026/a95c0026.asphttp://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/1995/a95c0026/a95c0026.asp

Primary Cause

Crew workload and reliance on visual aids in reduced visibility, leading to missed critical information regarding altimeters and vertical speed indicators.Crew workload and reliance on visual aids in reduced visibility, leading to missed critical information regarding altimeters and vertical speed indicators.

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