2 killed in Beaver crash in Cochrane Ontario May 25th

[180]

Just saw this in the news. Thoughts and prayers to the friends and family.

2 dead in northern Ontario plane crash

25/05/2012 7:54:39 PM

CTVNews.ca Staff

Two people have died in a small plane crash in the northern Ontario town of Cochrane Friday, CP24 reported.

A single-engine, propeller-driven de Havilland Beaver went down sometime Friday afternoon, a Transportation Safety Board of Canada spokesperson said.

The TSB has dispatched investigators to the scene.

[180]

CBC News Posted: May 25, 2012 6:44 PM ET Last Updated: May 25, 2012 7:39 PM ET

The Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team to investigate after an Air Cochrane plane crashed on Lillabelle Lake just north of Cochrane, Ont. Friday afternoon.

The de Havilland Beaver was attempting a landing when it was flipped over by the wind and submerged, said Mark Jones, office manager with Air Cochrane.

It is not known if anyone was injured or killed in the crash. The aircraft can seat up to six people, Jones said.

Air Cochrane runs fly-in fishing and hunting flights in the area.

TSB investigators aren't expected on the scene until late Friday or early Saturday.

Cochrane is north of Timmins, Ont., which is currently dealing with forest fires.

[cloudrunner]

Sad news indeed.

I did 4 years with Cochrane Air and had flown the same two guys on many occasions in an old but great Beaver, C-FGBF. One of the pax survived, the pilot and another did not.
Reports are winds gusting to 50 from the WSW which makes for a tricky approach with not a lot of room to get it down and stopped at the north end of Lillabelle. The south end has a little more width with an approach over the airport.

Condolences to the friends and family. Glenn was a great guy with a big heart.

[Lost Lake]

I flew there years back. Anyone know the name of the pilot. PM me if so.. So sad. They have had a few problems recently. I think GBD was the one with the flap indicator over the door. Condolences to all involved.

[North Shore]

Sad to hear. My condolences.

It was a miserably windy day on the 25th. We were out firefighting about 40 to the WSW of Timmins, and when we landed there for gas, it was gusting to 35, IIRC. Lots of catspaws on the water, too - easy to see that you might get flipped in a lighter aeroplane..

Take care out there, all.

[Siddley Hawker]

Condolances to the families, friends and co-workers.

Lost, GYP had the flap indicator over the door, I believe GBF was on the panel.

[northwings]

Siddley you are correct, GBF's flap indicator is on the panel. As for the accident no words can describe the pain we are all feeling after witnessing such a tragic event. Myself, my co-workers,and many others around the lake had a front row seat for this horror show. I just hope no one has to experience it. My sincere condolences go out to Rick's and Glenn's family.

[flyinthebug]

Everytime another DHC2 goes down, I cringe.

Its becoming difficult to send condolences to the families and friends over and over.

This really has to stop.

I wish a speedy recovery to the surviving passenger!

Fly safe all! & KNOW your own personal limits and never exceed them, ever!

[mamatried]

Regardless where the flp indicator was located....I just hope that it wasnt pilot fatigue...?

[Lost Lake]

unfortunately, from what I've heard, it wasn't fatigue. It never was a fatigue problem there. I got my handicap down to 8 in Cochrane. Gusty conditions, pilot hit wires just north of lake on approach. Not much speculation, just a miscalculation. Very sad.

[cloudrunner]

pilot hit wires just north of lake on approach. Not much speculation, just a miscalculation. Very sad.

Are you sure about that?

[DougRonan]

The pilot was good friend of mine and actually a relative by marriage. I spent most of the day there on the scene on Saturday. From the eyewitnesses I spoke to - he most definately did not hit the wires - it occured about 1000 feet or more from the north end of the lake - landing to the south west. It is an unfortunate and tragic accident and we need to let the TSB do their job before all the "armchair" investigators come up with speculation. Please have some respect for the deceased.

Doug Ronan
COPA Director for Southern Ontario
President Ontario Seaplane Association, COPA Flight 110

[Lost Lake]

Edited

[northwings]

No wires were hit, his approach path wasn't anywhere near where the wires are on the north end of the lake. Power was out in town due to trees falling because of the wind.

[floatpilot]

Not much speculation, just a miscalculation. Very sad.

HUH???? Sounds like speculation to me!

[BigBD1964]

Doug, thanks very much for clearing up the speculation. I met the pilot last year while up for a fly in moose hunt, such a nice man. This is a tragic loss for his family and for Air Cochrane. My sincere condolences to his family and the gang at Air Cochrane, nicest bunch of people you could ever ask to meet.

[Rowdy]

From the depths of my heart, I am sorry for all the family and friends.

[CD]

TSB calls for egress training and shoulder harnesses to improve survivability in floatplane accidents

Richmond Hill, Ontario, 23 October 2013 – Highlighting the fact that egress training and shoulder harnesses would have improved the chances for survival in a fatal floatplane accident at Lillabelle Lake, Ontario, in 2012, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today released its investigation report (A12O0071) into the accident.

On 25 May 2012, a de Havilland Beaver floatplane, operated by Cochrane Air Service, crashed following an aborted landing on Lillabelle Lake in northern Ontario. When gusty conditions prevented the plane from settling on the water, the pilot initiated a “go-around.” But as the pilot applied full power and began to climb, the airspeed dropped suddenly. The aircraft yawed to the left and rolled. This likely led to an aerodynamic stall and, with insufficient altitude to re-gain control, the aircraft flipped over, struck the water and was partially submerged. All three people onboard survived the initial impact, but only one person was able to successfully escape; the other two drowned.

The TSB is making two recommendations aimed at improving the odds that anyone who survives a floatplane crash will get out alive. “In an emergency, you only have seconds to orient yourself and escape and the right training can make the difference between life and death. Pilots with underwater egress training stand a better chance of helping themselves and their passengers survive,” said TSB Chair Wendy Tadros. “Another thing that will help immeasurably is shoulder harnesses. Too many passengers survive a floatplane crash only to drown because they have suffered some kind of head trauma and can’t get out of the aircraft.”

The TSB recommendations call for underwater egress training for all flight crews engaged in commercial seaplane operations (A13-02), and for all commercial seaplanes certificated for nine or fewer passengers to be fitted with seat belts that include shoulder harnesses on all passenger seats (A13-03).

These new recommendations build on to two outstanding TSB recommendations aimed at making floatplanes safer. In its investigation into the fatal 2009 floatplane crash that killed six passengers in Lyall Harbour, British Columbia (A09P0397), the Board made two recommendations: one calling for pop-out windows and doors to better facilitate egress (A11-05), and another calling for personal flotation devices for all passengers (A11-06).

Transport Canada has committed to making flotation devices mandatory, but has not committed to requiring floatplane doors and windows to come off easily after a crash. “When a floatplane crashes on water, approximately 70% of crash victims die from drowning. All four Board recommendations are aimed at changing that reality,” said Tadros. “Transport Canada needs to treat all four recommendations with the seriousness they deserve, and take every measure to prevent more from dying in otherwise survivable accidents.”

[CD]

Loss of control and collision with water
Cochrane Air Service
de Havilland DHC-2 Mk.1, C-FGBF
Lillabelle Lake, Ontario
25 May 2012
Show table of contents
Summary

The Cochrane Air Service de Havilland DHC-2 Mk.1 Beaver floatplane (registration C-FGBF, serial number 168) departed Edgar Lake, Ontario, with 2 passengers and 300 pounds of cargo on board. The aircraft was destined for the company’s main base located on Lillabelle Lake, Ontario, approximately 77 miles to the south. On arrival, a southwest-bound landing was attempted across the narrow width of the lake, as the winds favoured this direction. The pilot was unable to land the aircraft in the distance available and executed a go-around. At 1408, Eastern Daylight Time, shortly after full power application, the aircraft rolled quickly to the left and struck the water in a partially inverted attitude. The aircraft came to rest on the muddy lake bottom, partially suspended by the undamaged floats. The passenger in the front seat was able to exit the aircraft and was subsequently rescued. The pilot and rear-seat passenger were not able to exit and drowned. The emergency locator transmitter activated on impact.

Link to full report: Aviation Investigation Report A12O0071

[cloudrunner]

Thanks for the link.