Accident Overview
Grand Canyon Airlines flight 5, a De Havilland DHC-6 (registration N75GC), crashed during a go-around after a bounced landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport on a local Part 135 sightseeing flight. The accident resulted in the deaths of both pilots and eight passengers, with 11 other passengers injured, nine of them seriously.
Flight Details
The flight departed from Grand Canyon National Park Airport for a local sightseeing tour. After returning from a normal trip, the flight was cleared to land on runway 21.
Accident Sequence
Observers reported that the approach to the airport was normal, but the aircraft traveled about 1,000 feet down the runway at an altitude of about 5 feet before touchdown. It reportedly bounced and traveled another 1,000 feet before touching down again. The aircraft then veered to the right, and the flight crew initiated a go-around (aborted landing). The aircraft climbed in a nose-high attitude to about 150 to 200 feet above ground level (agl), then rolled to the left and crashed onto a wooded hill about 120 feet left of the runway. A scrape mark was found where the right wingtip scraped the runway during the second touchdown.
Emergency Response
A power line was severed during the impact, which interrupted electrical power to the airport and delayed emergency response to the crash.
Pilot Actions
Surviving passengers reported that the right seat pilot was flying the aircraft, while the left seat pilot narrated the tour. After a hard touchdown, the left seat pilot took control of the aircraft and applied full power for a go-around.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was improper pilot techniques and crew coordination during the landing attempt, bounce, and attempted go-around.
Casualties
Both pilots and eight passengers were killed. Eleven other passengers were injured, nine of them seriously.