What happened
At approximately 21:30 EDT, a Wabusk Air Piper PA-31 Navajo, registration C-GKMW, departed Runway 25 at Kashechewan, Ontario, for a night visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Moosube. Shortly after becoming airborne, the flight crew lost all visual connection to the ground and runway lights. During the initial climb, the captain retracted the landing gear and the first officer retracted the flaps at 200 feet above ground level. While the captain was adjusting power following a slight drop in manifold pressure on the left engine, the aircraft struck the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air before coming to rest 300 metres beyond the runway end. There were no injuries among the two pilots and six passengers, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the operational procedures, aircraft configuration, and environmental conditions. The crew was operating in "black hole" conditions, characterized by a dark, moonless night with no visible stars or ground references. Investigators also reviewed the aircraft's weight and balance records, noting that while the aircraft was likely within its center of gravity limits, the operator was using an incorrect maximum takeoff weight of 6840 pounds instead of the certified 6730 pounds for that configuration. Additionally, investigators found that baggage in the cabin was not secured with nets or tie-down rings, and a required pre-flight safety briefing for passengers had not been conducted.
Findings
- The flight crew failed to adhere to Wabusk Air standard operating procedures (SOPs), which required the pilot not flying to handle gear and flap retraction to allow the pilot flying to focus on aircraft attitude.
- The crew's attention was diverted to secondary instruments and controls, leading to an undetected sink rate.
- The pilot likely experienced a somatogravic illusion, a sensory error caused by linear acceleration in low-visibility night conditions, which created a false sensation of pitching up.
- Inaccurate weight estimation occurred because the onboard scale was not used to weigh cargo, and passenger weights exceeded standard estimates by approximately 135 pounds.