What happened
A Piper PA-31-350 chartered by NWT Community Mobilization departed Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, for a night instrument flight rules (IFR) charter to Fort Liard. The flight, carrying one pilot and five passengers, was delayed due to passenger issues, eventually departing at 2043 mountain daylight time.
Upon arrival at Fort Liard, the aircraft encountered moderate to heavy snow. The pilot attempted a non-directional beacon approach using a circling procedure for Runway 02. At approximately 2233, the aircraft struck a gravel bar on the west shore of the Liard River, located roughly 1.3 nautical miles short of the runway threshold. The impact caused substantial damage to the airframe, including the collapse of the landing gear, but no fire occurred. The accident resulted in three fatalities and three serious injuries.
Search and rescue efforts were complicated by darkness and poor weather. While the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated and was detected by the satellite system, initial location inaccuracies and the need to coordinate aircraft from distant locations delayed the arrival of rescuers. A civilian helicopter eventually located the wreckage approximately 10 hours after the crash.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's qualifications, the aircraft's maintenance, and the environmental conditions. Investigators found that the pilot had not met the required night recency for carrying passengers. Furthermore, the pilot used an unauthorized altimeter setting from Fort Simpson, which caused the cockpit instruments to indicate an altitude approximately 200 feet higher than the actual altitude.
Review of the pilot's experience revealed that while he had logged significant multi-engine time, much of it was considered familiarization rather than qualifying training. The investigation also noted that the pilot and the front-seat passenger were not wearing their shoulder harnesses, which likely increased the severity of their injuries.
Findings
- The pilot failed to maintain adequate altitude during a night circling approach in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- The use of an unauthorized remote altimeter setting contributed to a loss of vertical situational awareness.
- The pilot did not meet the regulatory requirements for night recency.
- The lack of use of shoulder harnesses contributed to the severity of the injuries sustained by the occupants.
- The aircraft was not equipped with a ground proximity warning system (GPWS) or a radio altimeter.