4 die in Algonquin plane crash

[PJ1]

CADORS 2009O2284 now indicates a TSB Class 3 investigation.

What is a class 3 investigation?

[CD]

Class 3 Occurrences (Individual Occurrence Investigation)

Individual occurrences that do not meet the criteria of Class 2 occurrences may be investigated when:

* there is significant public expectation that the TSB should independently make findings as to cause(s) and contributing factors; or
* there is potential for better understanding the latent unsafe conditions contributing to a significant safety issue; or
* a government representative so requests (pursuant to Section 14(2) of the CTAISB Act); or
* the Board must do so to meet its obligations or commitments.

TSB: Standards and Policies > Occurrence Classification Policy

[Widow]

You beat me to it CD! For the uninitiated, it means there will be a full investigation for cause and contributing factors followed by a public report.

[jeta1]

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[. ._]

Thanks, jeta1.

Looks like CFIT. I thought it would be icing, myself. I remember that day being terrible weather in Sudbury for flying with some cold misty rain that could easily be clear ice at altitude.

And as tragic as it was, this could be a good lesson for instructors to pass on the "from high to low, look out below" warning. (along with other warnings)

-istp

[hydro]

report is out and availale to the public but not on web, so here it is...
.

Thanks for the post jeta1

[star57]

I dont see anyone raising the possibility of the AC being a bit overloaded...I did a basic W&B 0n the Arrow and it may have been borderline without any baggage....two women on board and no bags...

I suppose that does not matter anymore, but it may show in the investigation that the AC may have been overloaded.
He may also have been triing to avoid weather and thats why he was so low, or he may have had some ice on the wings and at full gross...bongo!!!
In either case let them RIP, and my condolences to the family and close friends!

[flyingdutch]

Thanks jeta1 for the report. Can't honestly understand why TSB releases reports to the media, and then doesn't post them on their website at the same time. I appreciate the read. Always lots to learn.

flyingdutch

[RatherBeFlying]

TSB does not post reports on its website until the French translation is available. Unfortunately translation can take several months.

If by telepathy you happen to know that the report is available in English, you can e-mail them and they will send it to you.

Or just e-mail them every week or so until the report is ready and the public contact guy will say yes or no.

Oh wait, TSB makes an annual report to Parliament where completed reports are listed if you're happy with checking once a year.

Now if the TSB posted their dockets like the NTSB, it might be a bit less of a black box.

[Siddley Hawker]

Unless I missed it, I don't see the latest Sudbury weather there either. There must have been a pretty good reason for the guy to launch, maybe the SB weather was significantly better than forecast.

[C-FABH]

Unless I missed it, I don't see the latest Sudbury weather there either. There must have been a pretty good reason for the guy to launch, maybe the SB weather was significantly better than forecast.

I suspect there is more detailed weather information in Appendix A / Appendix B based on the summary.

[Jonathan]

Yes the weather in SB got worse than what was expected. Some bad weather, not included in the TAF, was reported somewhere during that period.

[armchair]

I find it regrettable that the report does not address underlying factors in the pilot's decision to do the flight, when he was very inexperienced at night flying, and weather was arguably marginal, flying into the darkness of Northern Ontario with 3 of his closest family members. This was Thanksgiving weekend: did they (TSB) dig into the planned activities for the 4 people on board for the following day? Was there an underlying reason for anyone of them to have to be in Sudbury that evening, as opposed to the next morning? A reunion, a meeting, a Thanksgiving brunch... anything that could have motivated or pressurred the pilot to carry-on, while in the back of his mind maybe he was not too comfortable with the big picture? The pilot was a succesful businessman in Sudbury, was there urgent business that needed his presence? Maybe they did not secure accommodation in Kingston for the day of the flight and figure they had to go.

All of these interrogations should not necessarily be in the report of course, but I would have liked to see at least one para to address the human factors that could have affected his decision to go, beyond the mere analysis of the weather.

Pressure to accomplish the desired outcome is an incredibly powerful force, which can be fatal in aviation as we all know. A wealthy family with an inexperienced pilot... where have we seen this before?

[RatherBeFlying]

A common scenario is coming to grief trying to get back home in deteriorating weather when it's getting dark.

One of the best ways to avoid surprises is to have a good handle on what the weather is expected to do on the way back home before you leave on the outbound flight. If the forecast is looking the least bit dodgy, then it's time to let all involved that an overnight stay away from home is a possibility. Pilot training somehow is silent on this.

Or you can land short and put up at a motel, but that's generally a lot easier in the US than Canadian Shield country where the airports are fewer and farther between.

I've done both.

I also spotted one of my favorite rentals parked at Sault Ste. Marie while the renter and GF were on the Algoma train ride. By the time they came back, the warm front had moved in and they had to take the Greyhound home as they had commitments Monday morning. Bad timing as if I had met them, I could have flown it back IFR while one of them drove my car back.

[Investigator]

Bump

report is out and availale to the public but not on web

Report is now on website at: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-repor ... 9o0217.asp

[kiloindiapapa]

I think we can all learn from this.