Crash @ North Spirit Lake Ont (4 dead, 1 survivor)

[Les Habitants]

Soo...whatever came of this accident? Nothing once again? Did Sarah Schmidt ever publish that story? I'd like to read it.

[cdnpilot77]

Soo...whatever came of this accident? Nothing once again? Did Sarah Schmidt ever publish that story? I'd like to read it.

They got a GPS approach very quickly

[Jastapilot]

Soo...whatever came of this accident? Nothing once again? Did Sarah Schmidt ever publish that story? I'd like to read it.

They got a GPS approach very quickly

*golf claps*

[Redneck_pilot86]

At least when people bust minimums to deliver pop and chips, they should crash on centerline...

[Jastapilot]

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

[Brown Bear]

Soo...whatever came of this accident? Nothing once again? Did Sarah Schmidt ever publish that story? I'd like to read it.

Safety board needs another year or so to pull their heads out of their asses.

[Doc]

update... TSB has released a confidential draft report which is being circulated to interested parties [only] for comments.

Isn't that nice. A "confidential" report. That's the way to solve the problem. We know what happened (no you don't) but we're not telling. Prepare the fan!

[Sidebar]

A "confidential" report. That's the way to solve the problem. We know what happened (no you don't) but we're not telling.

I'm not sure how to take this. This is SOP for any investigation before the final report is released. Are you suggesting there's a coverup?

[Doc]

A "confidential" report. That's the way to solve the problem. We know what happened (no you don't) but we're not telling.

I'm not sure how to take this. This is SOP for any investigation before the final report is released. Are you suggesting there's a coverup?

Perhaps not a "cover up" but indeed a wee bit of "sanitizing"? As in.."lets be sure everything is politically correct before we release this puppy........" For sure!

Besides, how long does it take to state..."pilot descended into the ground before making contact with the runway....."?

And then, all the "warm and fuzzy" excuses will rain down upon us. Pilot continued VFR into deteriorating weather phenomena. Company corporate attitude found to be a contributing factor. The logbook was not up to date. Pilot was wearing brown shoes with black pants. You know, the usual "chain of events"....

Yes, I'm getting jaded.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Gesus Doc.

It has only been a bit over a year that these TSB people have been beavering away finding out what happened.

Be fair here and give them another year or so.

By the way I'm betting Piper designed and built the first Navajo in less time than these so called accident investigations take.

[Doc]

Gesus Doc.

It has only been a bit over a year that these TSB people have been beavering away finding out what happened.

Be fair here and give them another year or so.

By the way I'm betting Piper designed and built the first Navajo in less time than these so called accident investigations take.

Well, to quote (with witnesses, I can't make this crap up) one of his co-workers, "he had to get it down where he did, or he wouldn't have got the job done......." Seriously. He did say this. And these guys are still in business. Boggles my mind.

But then, I don't suffer fools lightly. That, and I'm jaded.

[Changes in Latitudes]

But then, I don't suffer fools lightly.

How can you live with yourself?

[Doc]

But then, I don't suffer fools lightly.

How can you live with yourself?

I try to go through life in a drunken stupor!

[Siddley Hawker]

I try to go through life in a drunken stupor!

Proper t'ing!

[jump154]

TSB Report has been published

Operational pressures, adverse weather conditions, and lack of experience factored in January 2012 accident at North Spirit Lake, Ontario

The investigation identified three findings as to the causes of the accident. First, the decision to conduct an approach to an airport not serviced by an instrument approach in adverse weather conditions was likely the result of inexperience, and a desire to successfully complete the flight. Second, the decision to descend into cloud and continue in icing conditions was likely the result of inadequate awareness of the aircraft’s performance in icing conditions and de-icing capabilities. Last, because of the time spent airborne in icing conditions near the airport, the resulting ice accumulation on the aircraft’s critical surfaces would have led to an increase in the aircraft’s aerodynamic drag and stall speed, causing the aircraft to stall during final approach at an altitude from which recovery was not possible

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/medias-media/c ... 131121.asp

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-repor ... 2C0005.pdf

[AllClutch]

7th day cut lose from line indoc, first time in ice, spifr, all previous experience was pounding out circuits.
Recipe for tragedy.

[pdw]

The entire communication with regards to the plowing effort (made or not made) seems to have been the root problem for this pilot in this accident. Any other issues there IMO contribute to this main problem on that morning ... the way the report seems to have outlined it, esp the long time circling with/in ice.

[AllClutch]

27 minutes circling in ice waiting for the all clear.
This time of the year we have to be very mindful to make our calls to the plow operator early to avoid those long holds.

[flyinthebug]

TSB Report has been published

Operational pressures, adverse weather conditions, and lack of experience factored in January 2012 accident at North Spirit Lake, Ontario

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/medias-media/c ... 131121.asp

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-repor ... 2C0005.pdf

It would appear that much of the speculation about this accident in the previous 20 pages...has been confirmed with this report.

[ReserveTank]

Looking at the GFAs,and with no published approach, that would have been a no-go for me. That pilot would not be able to defend his decision to continue into those conditions if he were alive.
Also, I notice that company pressure was a stated factor but TC did not assign a corrective action for it.

[lostaviator]

It is such a shame these lives were lost in a completely avoidable accident.

[flyinthebug]

Also, I notice that company pressure was a stated factor but TC did not assign a corrective action for it.

I found that oddly exempt as well.

The report clearly states that on the one missed approach he flew during his line-indoc, the training captain warned him that "management was not going to be happy". How could he not have heard those words ringing in his ears anytime he felt pressure to get in? It was only his 7th flight "solo" in the Chieftain.

The young man was in over his head and made some bad decisions that some of us believe were at least partially influenced by company culture (confirmed with the report).

Regardless, it was him as PIC that had the responsibility of ensuring he performed a safe flight that was flown within the parameters of the Regs. He broke a lot of them to try to get in, and it cost him (and 3 others) far more than he was willing to pay. Let this be a valuable lesson to the young pilots reading this thread. Its OK to say NO. Listen to your instincts and when its over your head or illegal, just say no.

Just as tragic and sad today as it was almost 2 years ago now.

The happy ending is that Keystone is still flying and improved their SMS program

[stef]

"Since the accident, NAV CANADA has published an approved instrument approach procedure for the North Spirit Lake airport. For its part, Keystone Air Service has: revised its operations manual to better reflect operational requirements in icing conditions; implemented a multi-crew policy which applies to all instrument flights; amended its flight training record-keeping procedures to make it easier and more efficient to prove that all required training has been completed; and revised its operational flight plan form to include the calculated landing weight and centre of gravity."

Hmmm. Multi crew will help I suppose. Not dispatching a rookie in a snow storm would be better still.

[2R]

Did anyone notice anything about a functioning working auto-pilot in this report ?

How many other Navajo junkers are flying around in IMC and Icing conditions without the required de-icing equipment and working auto-pilot ?

[J31]

Looks like they lost their single pilot IFR ops spec.