Accident Overview
On a medical evacuation flight, a Twin Otter aircraft struck a mountain during the return leg from St. Anthony to Goose Bay. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact and subsequent bounce sequence.
Flight History
The flight departed Goose Bay for St. Anthony without incident, landing at 15:24. At 16:02, the aircraft departed St. Anthony on a VFR flight back to Goose Bay. On board were two pilots, a doctor, and a nurse. As the aircraft approached Goose Bay Airport, weather conditions became marginal, but the crew continued visual flight.
Weather and Terrain
The crew likely encountered near zero forward visibility in snow showers and fog. It is probable that they were able to maintain vertical contact with the ground and were confident they could continue flight with visual reference to the ground. However, the crew may not have been able to see terrain ahead and therefore may not have been able to determine if the aircraft would clear the hills, particularly when steep hills were encountered.
Impact and Probable Cause
The aircraft struck a rock outcropping 100 feet below the summit of a 2,050-foot mountain. After bouncing twice, the Twin Otter came to rest in a small, wooded gully, approximately 350 feet from the initial point of impact.
Probable cause as stated in the official findings: It was determined that the flight was attempted in mountainous terrain in marginal weather conditions. The aircraft was flown at an altitude which did not provide terrain clearance, and the aircraft struck a mountain for undetermined reasons.