What happened
On March 10, Air Ontario Flight 1363, a Fokker F-28, was performing a scheduled flight involving stops at Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, and Dryden. The aircraft, registered as C-FONF, had been operating with an inoperable auxiliary power unit (APU) for several days due to unresolved mechanical issues. Because the APU was unserviceable and no external power was available at the Dryden terminal, the crew performed a hot refuelling procedure while the right engine remained running.
During the ground stop in Dryden, heavy snowfall led to the accumulation of snow and slush on the aircraft wings. De-icing procedures were not performed because regulations prohibited de-icing while an engine was running. As the flight prepared for departure from runway 29, the weight of the aircraft had increased due to additional passengers, necessitating a fuel off-load and subsequent refuelling.
During the takeoff roll on a slush-covered runway, the aircraft experienced an unusually long ground run. After an initial rotation attempt near taxiway Alpha, the plane settled back onto the runway before successfully lifting off at approximately 5700 feet. The Fokker F-28 failed to climb sufficiently after clearing the runway end, flying just 15 feet above the terrain in a nose-high attitude. The aircraft subsequently struck trees in a nearby wooded area and caught fire. Of the 69 people on board, there were 24 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations highlighted that the pilot-in-command was placed in a difficult position by systemic failures. While the captain held responsibility for the decision to depart, the air transportation system failed to provide the necessary resources and support to ensure a safe operational environment during the flight.