On April 12, 1977, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration CF-XXT) operated by Superior Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Wunnummin Lake, Canada during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft's undercarriage was lost while attempting to maneuver around icy patches during an aborted takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft sustained landing gear damage after the pilot attempted to avoid icy runway conditions during an aborted takeoff.
What happened
During the takeoff phase of flight, the crew initiated an aborted takeoff procedure. In an effort to steer the aircraft away from a section of the runway covered in weak ice, a groundloop maneuver was attempted. During this sequence of events, the force applied to the landing gear resulted in the undercarriage being torn from the aircraft.
Findings
The primary cause of the structural damage was the attempt to execute a groundloop to avoid hazardous surface conditions.
The presence of weak ice on the runway surface necessitated the sudden change in flight path and subsequent aborted takeoff.
Probable cause
The aircraft's undercarriage was lost while attempting to maneuver around icy patches during an aborted takeoff.