What happened
At approximately 12:35 PDT, a Liard Air Limited de Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter, registration C-FAWC, was departing from a gravel airstrip near the Northern Rockies Lodge at Muncho Lake, British Columbia. The flight was intended to be a visual flight rules (VFR) trip to Prince George. After lifting off, the aircraft entered a right turn, causing the right outboard flap hanger to strike the Alaska Highway. The aircraft then hit a telephone pole and a cable, struck the edge of the highway a second time, and crashed into a rocky embankment near a dry creek.
An intense post-impact fire destroyed the aircraft. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury among the crew, while the remaining two passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's performance, the company's operational procedures, and the physical characteristics of the airstrip. Investigators found that while the engines were performing adequately, the aircraft was being operated beyond its performance capabilities for the specific runway conditions.
Key elements examined included the company's management structure, the lack of standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for short-field take-offs, and the accuracy of weight and balance calculations. The investigation also looked into the maintenance of the aircraft's safety equipment, specifically finding that the first officer's shoulder harness had been weakened by UV exposure and failed during the impact.