On March 11, 1980, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (registration C-GZBE) operated by Athabaska Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Buffalo Narrows, Canada during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft collided with power cables during the climbing phase of flight following takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A single-engine airplane crashed during its initial climb after striking utility cables, resulting in one fatality and five injuries.
What happened
During the takeoff phase of flight, a single-engine airplane encountered a catastrophic event while ascending. As the aircraft was climbing, it made contact with overhead power cables. This collision caused the aircraft to crash at the site of the impact.
There were six people on board the aircraft at the time of the accident. The crash resulted in one fatality and five injuries among the occupants.
Findings
The aircraft struck power lines during the climb.
The collision with utility cables was the primary factor leading to the loss of control and subsequent impact.
Probable cause
The aircraft collided with power cables during the climbing phase of flight following takeoff.