On June 20, 1996, a Swearingen SA26T Merlin II (registration C-GTHN) operated by Keewatin Air was involved in an aviation accident near Whale Cove, Canada during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The deviation from the runway centerline after landing was due to strong crosswinds with gusts up to 31 knots, exceeding the aircraft certification limit of 22 knots. 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.
After landing at Whale Cove Airport, an aircraft veered left off the runway, losing its undercarriage and sustaining substantial damage. Both pilots were uninjured. The probable cause was exceeding crosswind certification limits.
Incident
Following its landing at Whale Cove Airport, the aircraft rolled along the runway for about 1,600 feet before it began to deviate leftward. It subsequently departed the paved surface, resulting in the loss of its landing gear. The vehicle came to a stop off the runway. Both pilots were able to exit the aircraft unharmed. The damage sustained rendered the aircraft beyond economical repair.
Probable Cause
The official investigation attributed the deviation from the runway centerline to the influence of strong crosswinds. These winds included gusts of up to 31 knots. The aircraft's design certification limited crosswind operations to 22 knots, indicating that the encountered conditions exceeded the aircraft's certified capabilities. Consequently, the probable cause is that the aircraft deviated from the runway centerline after landing due to strong crosswinds gusting up to 31 knots, with the certification limit being 22 knots.