Accident Overview
On August 12, 1999, at 2357 eastern daylight time, a Régionnair Inc. Raytheon Beech 1900D (serial number UE-347) operating as Flight GIO347 crashed while on approach to Sept-Îles Airport in Quebec. The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Port-Menier, Quebec, with two pilots and two passengers aboard. The accident occurred one nautical mile short of Runway 31 in reported weather conditions of 200-foot ceiling and one-quarter statute mile visibility in fog.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed Port-Menier at 2334 EDT under instrument flight rules. The first officer was at the controls for the segment. After departure, the crew received a weather report from Sept-Îles Flight Service Station indicating low ceilings and visibility. The crew planned a straight-in approach to Runway 31 using GPS-derived distance and track readouts relative to the runway threshold. There was no published GPS approach for Runway 31. The descent from cruise was initiated late, causing the aircraft to be high and fast. It crossed the ZV non-directional beacon at 600 feet above sea level. During the final 30 seconds, the aircraft descended at approximately 850 feet per minute with full flaps extended at 140 to 150 knots indicated airspeed. The ground proximity warning system activated "Minimums" at 100 feet, to which the captain responded by directing a continued slow descent. The last recorded callout was at 30 feet, 1.2 seconds before impact. The aircraft struck trees in a near-level attitude on rising terrain.
Injuries and Damage
The captain suffered fatal injuries; the first officer sustained serious injuries; the two passengers received minor injuries. A post-crash fire destroyed the wings, the right engine, and the right midside of the fuselage. The cockpit area separated and was crushed, while the cabin remained relatively intact. Trees along the impact path were damaged, and the wet atmospheric conditions prevented the fire from spreading.
Personnel Information
The captain, aged 39, held an airline transport pilot license with 7,065 total flying hours, including 606 hours on type. He had extensive experience in the region and was familiar with local weather patterns. The first officer, aged 28, also held an ATPL with 2,600 total hours and 179 hours on type. He had expressed fatigue to the captain earlier that day, indicating he needed a break from flying. His recent work schedule involved long days with short-hop flights, and he reported not having a day of uninterrupted rest since July 13.
Aircraft and Meteorological Information
The Beech 1900D was manufactured in 1998 with a total airframe time of 373 hours. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67D engines. At impact, the landing gear was extended, flaps were at 35°, and both altimeters were set to 29.85 inches of mercury. The engines were functioning normally. Weather patterns over the region featured a stagnant airmass with extensive stratus clouds, towering cumulus, and cumulonimbus. The reported visibility at Sept-Îles was one-quarter statute mile in fog, with a 200-foot ceiling.