What happened
On a scheduled flight from Ottawa to Iqaluit, a Boeing 727, registration C-GXFA, experienced a runway excursion during landing in heavy winter weather. The aircraft, operated by First Air, was carrying 52 passengers and 7 crew members. As the flight approached Runway 35, the crew encountered strong crosswinds and wind shear, necessitating a missed approach.
During the second approach, the aircraft touched down near the runway centerline. However, the plane drifted to the left, leaving the paved surface and traveling through mud and gravel before coming to rest 7'000 feet from the runway threshold. The nose and left main wheels were off the runway in the mud. An emergency evacuation was initiated, and all occupants exited the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation focused on why the aircraft could not be maintained on the runway surface. Investigators found that while the flight crew had received a runway condition report (RSC) indicating the surface was bare and wet, the actual conditions had changed. During the period between the first aborted approach and the second landing, snow and slush had accumulated on the runway.
While snow-clearing vehicles had recently vacated the runway, there was a failure to provide updated information to the incoming flight. The investigation also examined the evacuation process, noting that the evacuation order was not initially heard in the passenger cabin due to an incorrect audio panel setting used by the first officer. Additionally, the investigation looked into the risks associated with the airline's emergency checklist order and the lack of procedures for protecting passengers from extreme cold following an evacuation.
Findings
- The outdated runway condition report provided to the crew failed to reflect the presence of snow and slush at the time of landing.
- Airport and flight service station staff did not ensure that updated runway surface information was communicated to the flight crew during changing weather conditions.
- The aircraft was landed in crosswinds that exceeded recommended operational values for the actual runway conditions.
- The use of an incorrect audio selector panel prevented the evacuation announcement from being heard by passengers.
Safety action
- First Air updated its operations manual to specify the use of the aft hand microphone for passenger announcements to ensure transmission regardless of audio panel settings.
- First Air issued an engineering order to modify audio selector panels to allow for more reliable PA transmissions.
- Transport Canada introduced new standards for airport winter maintenance and planning following the occurrence.