Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, a wheel-ski equipped de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, registration C-FASV, serial number 23, was supporting road construction operations in northern Saskatchewan. The aircraft had transported a five-person crew from a base camp to a small lake located approximately 22 nautical miles from Points North Landing, Saskatchewan, the company's main base. After dropping off the crew in the morning, the pilot returned to Points North Landing and refueled the aircraft from the company's main fuel supply. The pickup was planned for late afternoon.
Sequence of Events
When the pilot returned for the crew, the ambient temperature was about seven degrees Celsius, and five to six inches of slush covered the ice surface. After boarding the passengers, the pilot initiated a takeoff. The aircraft accelerated slowly in the slush, prompting the pilot to reject the takeoff. He then selected a different takeoff path and repositioned one passenger to a forward seat before attempting a second takeoff. During this attempt, the pilot continued beyond his previously chosen rejection distance. The engine revolutions per minute (RPM) reportedly decreased by about 150 RPM. The aircraft failed to become airborne, ran into the low shoreline, and crashed. It skidded to a stop approximately 300 feet from the shore. An intense fire erupted immediately after the crash, engulfing the main fuselage and engine, and destroying the aircraft. All occupants evacuated; only one passenger suffered minor burns during the evacuation.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the pilot continued the takeoff run with the left ski firmly adhering to the slushy surface beyond a point at which a reject could have been made safely. Contributing to the occurrence was the decrease in engine rpm during takeoff.