Accident Overview
A Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III passenger aircraft, operating as Skylink Flight 070, was destroyed in an accident at Terrace Airport (YXT), British Columbia, Canada. All five passengers and two crew members were killed. The aircraft had departed Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at 06:51 on a scheduled domestic flight to Terrace.
Approach Sequence
At 08:20, Flight 070 was cleared for an approach at Terrace. At 08:27, while at an altitude of 1,200 feet above sea level and just prior to reaching the published missed approach point (MAP), the captain stated, "OK, I got the button here." Fourteen seconds later, the captain saw the button of runway 27. At approximately the same time, the aircraft was observed on what corresponded to a downwind leg for runway 15 at about 500 feet above ground level (agl), flying straight and level over the threshold of runway 27 with the landing gear down. The aircraft crossed the localizer transmitter at an altitude of 1,100 feet asl and an airspeed of 140 knots. Approximately 30 seconds later, the aircraft commenced a descent from 1,100 feet, and the flaps were lowered to the full position. The aircraft then leveled at approximately 900 feet. Around this time, the aircraft was observed on base leg for runway 15 at a low altitude, close to an east/west ridge located about 1.5 miles north of the airport.
Missed Approach and Impact
Twenty-six seconds after full flap selection, a missed approach was initiated. The landing gear and flaps were selected up. Within five seconds of the missed approach initiation, the aircraft began to accelerate, establishing a rate of climb of approximately 1,200 feet per minute. This rate of climb quickly diminished to zero, followed by a descent that increased to 3,000 feet per minute. As the aircraft descended, the co-pilot called "descending" twice. A few seconds later, the aircraft struck trees on the west side of runway 15 just inside the airport perimeter. A second and final impact with the ground occurred approximately 800 feet from the initial tree strike, just outside the airport perimeter. A fire erupted following the ground impact. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the crew continued with the approach beyond the missed approach point without establishing the required visual references. The evidence indicates that, while subsequently carrying out a missed approach in IFR conditions, the aircraft was flown into the ground in a manner consistent with disorientation. Contributing to the occurrence were the inadequacy of the company's operating procedures, the reduced operating standards, and the inadequate definition of the visual references required for a circling approach.