ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 C-FAWC Muncho Lake-Mile 462 Water Aerodrome, BC
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Sunday 8 July 2007
Time:12:35
Type:Silhouette image of generic DHC6 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 100
Operator:Liard Air
Registration: C-FAWC
MSN: 108
First flight: 1968
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3
Total:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Muncho Lake-Mile 462 Water Aerodrome, BC (   Canada)
Phase: Initial climb (ICL)
Nature:Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Muncho Lake-Mile 462 Water Aerodrome, BC, Canada
Destination airport:Prince George Airport, BC (YXS/CYXS), Canada
Narrative:
A de Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter turboprop plane was destroyed when it crashed on takeoff from the gravel airstrip at Muncho Lake, BC, Canada. A post-impact fire erupted and the airplane was destroyed. One passenger was killed. Two pilots and two passengers survived the accident.
The airplane was operating on a VFR flight to Prince George Airport, BC (YXS). After becoming airborne, the aircraft entered a right turn and the right outboard flap hanger contacted the Alaska Highway. The aircraft subsequently struck a telephone pole and a telephone cable, impacted the edge of the highway a second time, and crashed onto a rocky embankment adjacent to a dry creek channel. The aircraft came to rest upright approximately 600 feet from the departure end of the airstrip.

The airstrip was located at a lodge next to Muncho Lake. It was maintained by the operator, Liard Air. It was 950 feet long and sloping upward about 2° in the northwest direction.
Post-accident calculations showed that the aircraft probably weighed 10100 pounds at takeoff, which was below the 11 579 pounds maximum takeoff weight. However, centre of gravity (c of g) calculations revealed that the aircraft c of g was near the forward limit, at 23 per cent mean aerodynamic chord (MAC). The approved c of g range is between 20 per cent and 36 per cent MAC.

Probable Cause:

FINDINGS AS TO CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
1. The take-off was attempted at an aircraft weight that did not meet the performance capabilities of the aircraft to clear an obstacle and, as a result, the aircraft struck a telephone pole and a telephone cable during the initial climb.
2. A take-off and climb to 50 feet performance calculation was not completed prior to take off; therefore, the flight crew was unaware of the distance required to clear the telephone cable.
3. The southeast end of the airstrip was not clearly marked; as a result, the take-off was initiated with approximately 86 feet of usable airstrip behind the aircraft.
4. The take-off was attempted in an upslope direction and in light tailwind, both of which increased the distance necessary to clear the existing obstacles.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: TSB Canada
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 3 months
Accident number: TSB Report A07W0128
Download report: Final report

Sources:
» 1 dead, 3 injured after small plane crashes in B.C. (Canada.com)
» CADORS Number: 2007P1248


Photos

photo of DHC-6-Twin-Otter-100-C-FAWC
accident date: 08-07-2007
type: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 100
registration: C-FAWC
 

Video, social media

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Muncho Lake-Mile 462 Water Aerodrome, BC to Prince George Airport, BC as the crow flies is 596 km (372 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org