What happened
On a night flight from Montréal to Bromont, Quebec, a HS 1-25-600A operated by Scott Aviation, registration N21SA, veered off the runway during its approach. The flight crew, consisting of two pilots, was accompanied by four passengers. Upon approaching Bromont, the crew learned via the airport's advisory service that the runway edge lights were non-functional. Despite this, the crew proceeded with the instrument approach.
During the descent, confusion arose regarding the position of the precision approach path indicator (PAPI). While the crew believed the PAPI was on one side of the runway, the airport dispatcher indicated it was on the other. The aircraft eventually touched down 300 feet to the left of Runway 05L and 1800 feet beyond the threshold. The aircraft traveled approximately 1800 feet before striking a ditch, causing the nose and right landing gear to collapse. During the incident, the left engine failed to shut down immediately due to a blocked fuel cock lever. The evacuation was hampered by the noise of the running engine and a jammed emergency exit. The accident resulted in three serious injuries and three minor injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight planning, crew communications, and airport lighting configurations. The probe established that the pilot-in-command had not reviewed the latest NOTAMs, which would have confirmed the lighting outage prior to departure. The investigation also looked into the aircraft's mechanical state, specifically the difficulty in shutting down the left engine, and the structural issues that prevented the emergency exit from being opened from the outside.
Findings
- The flight crew attempted a night landing despite the absence of required runway edge lights.
- The crew's decision to proceed with the landing without adequate visual references was the primary contributing factor.
- Ineffective communication between the pilot and co-pilot regarding the approach parameters and intentions contributed to the error.
- Inadequate flight planning, including the failure to check NOTAMs and assess the impact of snow-covered runway conditions, increased the risk.
- The lack of a passenger safety briefing and the failure to remove an obstructing armrest hindered the evacuation process.