Propair Flight 420: 1998 Metro II Crash at Mirabel (C-GQAL)

Flight Details and Initial Anomalies On the morning of 18 June 1998, Propair Flight 420, a Fairchild-Swearingen Metro II (SA226-TC) with registration C-GQAL, departed Dorval, Quebec, for Peterborough, Ontario, under instrument flight rules. The aircraft took off from Runway 24L at 0701 eastern daylight time. During ground acceleration, the aircraft pulled to the left of the runway centreline, requiring right rudder input to maintain alignment. ## In-Flight Emergencies Two minutes after takeoff, the flight was cleared to climb to 16,000 feet. At 0713, the crew reported a decrease in hydraulic pressure and requested to return to Dorval. The controller cleared the aircraft for a 180-degree turn and descent to 8,000 feet. The crew initially indicated no on-board emergency. Shortly after initiating the turn, the crew noted control issues. The left wing overheat light illuminated approximately 40 seconds later but extinguished within 30 seconds without apparent checklist activity. At 0718:12, the left engine appeared to be on fire and was shut down. The captain took the controls less than a minute later, noting that abnormal right aileron pressure was required to maintain heading. ## Decision to Divert and Fire Recurrence At 0719:19, the crew informed air traffic control that the left engine was shut down. Following a second suggestion from ATC, the crew agreed to proceed to Mirabel instead of Dorval. Less than a minute and a half later, the crew reported flames coming from the engine nozzle. Preparations for an emergency landing began, including a review of the manual landing gear extension procedure. At 0723:10, the crew reported the left engine fire had stopped, but three and a half minutes later, they advised that the fire had started again. During this period, the aircraft became increasingly difficult to control in roll, with aileron trim set to maximum. ## Crash and Aftermath Around 0727, while on short final for Runway 24L, the landing gear lever was selected, but only two gear down indicator lights illuminated. Near the runway threshold, the left wing failed upwards. The aircraft rotated more than 90 degrees to the left around its longitudinal axis and crashed inverted on the runway. The aircraft immediately caught fire, slid 2,500 feet, and came to rest on the left side of the runway. Firefighters near the runway threshold responded promptly and quickly brought the fire under control, but all occupants were fatally injured.