Loss of Electrical Power
While in cruising flight at night south of Montreal, Quebec, the Cessna 172 (C-GXSD, serial 17261853) experienced a complete loss of electrical power. The pilot observed the ammeter showing a continuous rate of discharge, indicating low voltage. As the electrical system failed, the transponder stopped transmitting, and radio communication became impossible. The pilot set the transponder to code 7600, but the emergency code was not detected by air traffic services radar. The cabin lights dimmed and eventually went out. The aircraft was then 24 nautical miles from St-Hubert Airport and 14 nautical miles from Saint-Jean Airport.
Decision to Land at St-Hubert
The pilot decided to land on runway 24L at St-Hubert Airport, although Saint-Jean Airport was 10 nautical miles closer. This decision was based on uncertainty about the operating hours of the Saint-Jean tower—which closed at 2100—and the belief that the radar would continue to track the flight. The radar continued to show the aircraft in primary mode only.
Approach and Radar Tracking
The aircraft entered St-Hubert Class D airspace at approximately 1918. Radar recordings indicated a 90-degree left turn at 1924 over Saint-Mathias Airport, and the Cessna entered the St-Hubert control zone at 1927:12. At 1929:23, the aircraft reached the final leg of runway 24L, 2 nautical miles from the threshold at a speed of 70 knots, then disappeared from the radar screen. The aircraft landed midway on the runway at about 1931. Radar returns in the control zone were intermittent and of poor quality.
Collision
Meanwhile, a Katana (C-GADA, serial 10281) with an instructor and a student on board had been cleared to take off on runway 06R. The student began a night VFR training take-off run with landing, navigation, and strobe lights on. During the take-off roll at about 55 knots, the instructor saw the Cessna 172 rolling in the opposite direction a few metres ahead. To avoid collision, the instructor pulled on the stick, causing the Katana to pass over the Cessna. The Katana struck the roof of the Cessna with its landing gear, then crashed onto the runway and came to a stop on its belly on taxiway Foxtrot. The collision occurred 950 feet from the runway threshold, 45 seconds after the Katana received take-off clearance. Both aircraft were extensively damaged; the three occupants sustained minor injuries.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot of the Cessna 172, the sole occupant, held a private pilot licence with 120 hours of flight time and was obtaining a commercial pilot licence. He had obtained a night rating on 27 January 1998. The Katana's pilot held a commercial pilot licence (10 January 1997) and a flight instructor rating (11 April 1997). Both pilots were certified and qualified for the flights. The Cessna 172 was owned by Transport Air, purchased in November 1997, and had 2,083 hours total flight time. The operator had modified the avionic system and performed three periodic inspections since return to service, with no electrical irregularities found. The aircraft had accumulated about six hours since the last 50-hour inspection.
Emergency Procedures and Communication
According to the Cessna 172 aircraft operating manual, the procedure for an alternator failure was to turn off the alternator, reduce electrical consumption, and land as soon as practical. The pilot did not follow this procedure, as he was unaware that a low-voltage indication signified a loss of alternator output; he believed the red over-voltage warning light would indicate an alternator malfunction. He did not consult a checklist or the manual. Although the communication failure occurred in Class E airspace, the pilot could enter Class D airspace without clearance but was required to follow no-radio arrival procedures. The pilot was not very familiar with these procedures.