What happened
Operating as 'Tanker 45', the Air Tractor aircraft was performing aerial firefighting operations near Fort McMurray. After completing its mission without incident, the crew proceeded to Manning Airport for landing. Upon touchdown on runway 25, the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control, causing it to drift toward the right side of the runway.
As the aircraft exited the paved surface, it struck a drainage ditch. The impact caused the nose gear to detach and the aircraft to come to a halt in a nearby grassy field. The structural integrity of the plane was severely compromised, as the fuselage split into two sections just aft of the cockpit. During the excursion, the propeller on the right engine detached, while the left engine propeller sustained bending damage.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced directional control problems immediately following landing.
- The collision with a drainage ditch led to the separation of the nose gear and the breaking of the fuselage.