History of the Flight
The pilot of a Cessna 441 Conquest was conducting an international charter flight from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Gods Lake Narrows, Manitoba. The aircraft landed at Fort Frances, Ontario, for customs and refueling, then continued under visual flight rules. During take-off at Fort Frances, the left engine lost power. The pilot elected to continue the take-off but was unable to maintain control after becoming airborne. The aircraft veered left and crashed on the airfield at 0425 central daylight time, at night, on the Fort Frances Municipal Airport.
Injuries to Persons
One crew member and six passengers sustained minor or no injuries. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The nose cone and nose baggage compartment were torn open, and the nose landing gear separated. The left engine detached from its mounts. The flaps and aileron were torn from the right wing, and the left main landing gear retraction mechanism penetrated the upper surface of the left wing. Fuel tanks ruptured, but no fire occurred.
Other Damage
Fuel spill necessitated removal of soil at the crash site.
Personnel Information
The captain, aged 27, held an ATPL (U.S.A.) with 4,800 total flying hours, including 40 hours on type. He was certified and qualified for the flight. He had received in-house and Flight Safety Foundation ground school and simulator training.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a 1978 Cessna Conquest, serial number 441-0046, with 2,447 airframe hours. It was powered by two Airesearch TPE 331-8 engines and Hartzell HC-B3TN-5E propellers. Maximum allowable take-off weight was 9,850 pounds. The company's weight and balance form indicated 9,850 lb and centre of gravity (CG) 177.5 inches aft of datum. Post-accident recalculation using actual passenger and baggage weights yielded 10,471 lb and CG 180.0 inches aft, both exceeding limits. The Pilot's Operating Handbook recommended rotation at 98 knots for engine-out safety.
Meteorological Information
Weather at nearby International Falls, Minnesota, was clear with 1/2 mile visibility in patchy ground fog, wind 240° at 4 knots, temperature 11°C. Similar conditions were reported at Fort Frances.
Take-off Sequence
The pilot began take-off on runway 30, accelerated to 98 knots, and rotated. He observed a bird approaching the left side and experienced a left yaw with reduced left engine torque. Believing the speed sufficient, he continued but could not control the aircraft, which crashed left of the runway with gear down. The pilot assisted evacuation and sought help.
Aerodrome Information
Fort Frances Municipal Airport is an uncontrolled aerodrome with runways 30/12 (4,500 ft) and 03/21 (2,600 ft). The Canada Flight Supplement indicated an aerodrome traffic zone with 3-mile visibility minimum for VFR, but the pilot believed the minimum was 1 mile.
Flight Recorders
No flight data or cockpit voice recorder was installed, nor required.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Bird feathers and a gull wing were found left of runway centerline about 1,600 ft from the threshold. Tire marks began at 1,800 ft, curved left, and ended 2,200 ft from threshold. The left tire mark was lighter. A gouge mark in grass began 2,900 ft from threshold, 146 ft left of runway edge, aligned with debris. Impact marks crossed a drainage ditch and runway, with the aircraft traveling tail-first. The left engine had bird ingestion evidence; its propeller blades were nearly straight, while right blades were bent.
Medical Information
No evidence of incapacitation or physiological factors affecting pilot performance.
Fire
There was no fire.
Survival Aspects
The pilot assisted passengers in evacuation. The crash was not observed due to darkness and fog. The airport manager initiated emergency response after the pilot reached the terminal. Passengers were transported to hospital. Baggage was not restrained but did not move forward. The ELT did not activate; it was serviceable but of a type requiring deceleration along the longitudinal axis during forward motion.
Bird Hazard
A garbage dump located about one mile south of the airport, observed with hundreds of gulls the day after. No bird hazard warning in the Canada Flight Supplement. No statistical data on bird strikes at Fort Frances in Transport Canada or TSB records.