Status:	Final
Date:	19 MAR 1999
Time:	09:45
Type:	de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
Operator:	Provincial Airlines
Registration:	C-FWLQ
C/n / msn:	724
First flight:	1980
Total airframe hrs:	30490
Engines:	2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27
Crew:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	3,7 km (2.3 mls) from Davis Inlet Airport, NF (YDI) (Canada)
Phase:	Approach (APR)
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Goose Bay Airport, NF (YYR/CYYR), Canada
Destination airport:	Davis Inlet Airport, NF (YDI), Canada
Flightnumber:	960

Narrative:
Flight 960 operated under a defense visual flight rules flight plan and departed Goose Bay for Davis Inlet at 08:15 AST. During the first approach, the first officer had occasional visual glimpses of the snow on the surface. The captain descended the aircraft to the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 1340 feet asl. When the crew did not acquire the required visual references at the missed approach point, they executed a missed approach. On the second approach, the captain flew outbound from the beacon at 3000 feet asl until turning on the inbound track. It was decided that if visual contact of the surface was made at any time during the approach procedure, they would continue below the MDA in anticipation of the required visual references. The captain initiated a constant descent at approximately 1500 feet per minute with 10 degrees flap selected. The FO occasionally caught glimpses of the surface. At MDA, in whiteout conditions, the captain continued the descent. In the final stages of the descent, the FO acquired visual ground contact; 16 seconds before impact, the captain also acquired visual ground contact. At 8 seconds before impact, the crew selected maximum propeller revolutions per minute. The aircraft struck the ice in controlled flight two nm from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed with wing and partial fuselage separation, and other incursion damage. The tail section where the ELT was mounted was badly damaged. Aircraft parts and cargo were scattered over the ice. The co-pilot was found approximately 20 feet from the main wreckage. He had expired before searchers reached the scene. The pilot was located in the rear of the aircraft, apparently thrown there during the crash sequence. He was semi-conscious with serious injuries. There was no fire.

Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors: "1) The captain decided to descend below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) without the required visual references; 2) After descending below MDA, both pilots were preoccupied with acquiring and maintaining visual contact with the ground and did not adequately monitor the flight instruments; thus, the aircraft flew into the ice."

Events:

Sources:
» CASN
» ICAO Adrep Summary 2/00 (#124)
» The Telegram 20.03.1999