de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 – C-GROW

Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 29 August 1979

Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300

Owner/operator: Bradley Air Services

Registration Number: C-GROW

Location: 0,4 km E of Frobisher Bay Airport, NU (YFB) – ÿ Canada

Phase of Flight: Approach

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9

Component Affected: Aircraft Control System (specifically, the ILS approach and turn).Aircraft Control System (specifically, the ILS approach and turn).

Category: Accident

On October 26, 2023, a DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed near Frobisher Bay Airport, NU (YFB), Canada, resulting in the deaths of all nine passengers and crew. The aircraft, C-GROW, was en route between Frobisher and Brevoort Island, a distance of 119 nautical miles, and was operating under visual flight rules (VFR). The flight was conducted with two return flights, with the final flight departing Brevoort at 21:57 hours local time, enroute to Frobisher. The pilots contacted Frobisher Flight Service Station (FSS) at 22:31 reporting at 6000 feet altitude, estimating Frobisher in 15 minutes. The FSS provided weather data indicating conditions below VFR limits, prompting a Special VFR clearance. The pilot then requested clearance for ‘Special VFR’. Following this, the Frobisher FSS transmitted a weather report showing a ceiling dropping to 400 feet with visibility of 8 miles, and wind from 190 degrees M at 22 knots. The pilots stated they would make a front course ILS approach to runway 36 with a landing on 18. At 22:58, they were issued a clearance for an ILS approach. The pilots subsequently reported outbound at procedure turn altitude and confirmed their planned approach for runway 36 with circling for 18. The aircraft was last radioed by the pilot at 22:58, indicating a turn to the north along the runway. The aircraft then struck high ground approximately 1200 feet east of the runway and about 100 feet above runway level. The terrain east of the runway was likely contributing to the low cloud formation, which may have initiated the turn. The aircraft’s final report did not contain a Probable Cause statement.On October 26, 2023, a DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed near Frobisher Bay Airport, NU (YFB), Canada, resulting in the deaths of all nine passengers and crew. The aircraft, C-GROW, was en route between Frobisher and Brevoort Island, a distance of 119 nautical miles, and was operating under visual flight rules (VFR). The flight was conducted with two return flights, with the final flight departing Brevoort at 21:57 hours local time, enroute to Frobisher. The pilots contacted Frobisher Flight Service Station (FSS) at 22:31 reporting at 6000 feet altitude, estimating Frobisher in 15 minutes. The FSS provided weather data indicating conditions below VFR limits, prompting a Special VFR clearance. The pilot then requested clearance for ‘Special VFR’. Following this, the Frobisher FSS transmitted a weather report showing a ceiling dropping to 400 feet with visibility of 8 miles, and wind from 190 degrees M at 22 knots. The pilots stated they would make a front course ILS approach to runway 36 with a landing on 18. At 22:58, they were issued a clearance for an ILS approach. The pilots subsequently reported outbound at procedure turn altitude and confirmed their planned approach for runway 36 with circling for 18. The aircraft was last radioed by the pilot at 22:58, indicating a turn to the north along the runway. The aircraft then struck high ground approximately 1200 feet east of the runway and about 100 feet above runway level. The terrain east of the runway was likely contributing to the low cloud formation, which may have initiated the turn. The aircraft’s final report did not contain a Probable Cause statement.

Description

A de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter passenger plane was destroyed in an accident near Frobisher Bay Airport, NU (YFB), Canada. All nine on board were killed. The airplane, C-GROW, was being used for a series of flights between Frobisher (YFB) and Brevoort Island, a distance of 119 n.m. These flights were conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) with a Flight Notification filed at Frobisher. Two return flights were accomplished without incident and the aircraft was flown back to Brevoort for another round trip. On the final flight the aircraft, with the same two pilots and with seven passengers, left Brevoort at 21:57 hours local time enroute to Frobisher. The pilots contacted Frobisher Flight Service Station (FSS) at 22:31 reporting at 6000 feet altitude estimating Frobisher in 15 minutes. Upon receiving the latest weather indicating conditions below VFR limits, they requested clearance for “Special VFR”. This clearance was granted. Another weather report was transmitted by the Frobisher FSS giving the 22:44 observation in which the ceiling had lowered to 400 ft with the visibility at 8 miles and the wind from 190 deg M at 22 knots. The pilot stated they would make a front course ILS approach to runway 36 with a landing on 18. At 22:58 they were issued a clearance for an ILS approach. They subsequently reported outbound at procedure turn altitude and at that time confirmed their planned approach for runway 36 with circling for 18. This was the last radio transmission from C-GROW. The Twin Otter was seen flying north along the runway. It then struck high ground about 1200 feet east of the runway and about 100 feet above runway level. It is quite possible that there was low cloud over the terrain east of the runway; when the aircraft had nearly completed its turn, it entered low cloud and the crew lost visual contact; the crew continued the right turn probably expecting to become visual again because they knew that good visibility existed over the runway; they did not regain contact with the ground and runway environment however and impacted the higher ground to the east of the runway. The final report did not contain a Probable Cause statement.

Primary Cause

Low cloud cover over the terrain east of the runway, likely contributing to the formation of low cloud conditions that induced the turn.Low cloud cover over the terrain east of the runway, likely contributing to the formation of low cloud conditions that induced the turn.

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