ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter C-FDDX Lac PLuto, QC
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Thursday 13 October 2022
Time:09:29
Type:Silhouette image of generic DH3T model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
de Havilland Canada DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter
Operator:True North Airways
Registration: C-FDDX
MSN: 165
First flight: 1956
Total airframe hrs:17489
Engines: 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Lac PLuto, QC (   Canada)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:Mistissini Water Aerodrome, QC, Canada
Destination airport:?
Narrative:
A float-equipped DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter was conducting a flight from Mistissini Water Aerodrome, QC (CSE6) to Lac Pluto, QC. While maneuvering for a landing, the aircraft struck the surface of the water. The passengers, who were waiting nearby, transported the pilot to a nearby cabin, where he was later taken to hospital by a search and rescue helicopter. The pilot, who was the sole person on board, received serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable Cause:

Findings as to causes and contributing factors
1. Due to the visual cues of the landing area that were visible to the pilot, the close proximity of the landing site where passengers were waiting, and the natural tendency to continue a plan under changing conditions, the pilot continued the approach despite visibility in the local area being below the minimum required for visual flight rules flight.
2. Owing to the reduced visibility, the pilot’s workload, while he was manoeuvring for landing, was high and his attention was focused predominantly outside the aircraft in order to keep the landing area in sight. As a result, a reduction in airspeed went unnoticed.
3. During the aircraft’s turn from base to final, the increased wing loading, combined with the reduced airspeed, resulted in a stall at an altitude too low to permit recovery.
4. The pilot was not wearing the shoulder harness while at the controls and operating the aircraft because he found it uncomfortable and other aircraft he flew were not equipped with one. As a result, during impact with the water, the pilot received serious injuries.

Accident investigation:

Investigating agency: TSB Canada
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 1 months
Accident number: A22Q0122
Download report: Final report

Classification:
VFR flight in IMC
Loss of control

Sources:
» journaldemontreal.com
» quintenews.com
» TSB A22Q0122


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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.
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DHC-3 Turbine Otter

  • 40+ built
  • 21st loss
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