North-Wright Airways - Accidents

Accidents

• On July 5, 2004: TSB reported that the a DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration C-FMOL) was departing from an approximately 1,500 foot long gravel strip at Mile 222 of the Canol Road (near the Tsichu River), NWT. The takeoff was initiated to the north and into wind. Immediately after becoming airborne, the aircraft encountered a strong right cross-wind and settled back onto the strip. The left wheel contacted willows that had overgrown the edge of the strip. The aircraft veered left into the willows at about 60 knots, and began to decelerate. Prior to flying speed being regained, the aircraft rolled off the end of the strip and come to rest in a shallow creek. The right wing partially separated from the fuselage at impact and the forward fuselage, nose gear and right main gear sustained substantial damage. The pilot and first officer were uninjured. The purpose of the trip was to move hunting gear and outfitter supplies back to an airstrip at Mile 170 of the Canol Road (Godlin Lake). The aircraft was at or near gross weight at the time of the occurrence.

Cadors Number: 2004C1203

• On May 9, 2005: a De Havilland DHC-6 (C-GBEB) was on a charter flight with a crew of two pilots, flying from Resolute Bay, NU to pick up passengers at Issachsen, NU. The ski-equipped aircraft departed from an ice strip on Resolute Bay. Approximately 20 minutes into the flight, the crew heard a loud bang and noticed that the right ski was in a vertical attitude up and against the right lift strut. The rear check cable and attachment fitting were wrapped around the right lift strut. After discussion with company maintenance personnel, the crew elected to return and land on the ice strip at Resolute Bay. To maintain flying attitude and ski orientation, the crew landed without flap. On touchdown, the ski separated from the landing gear and the gear leg dug into the snow surface. The crew used reverse thrust and opposite rudder to stop the aircraft and to counter the drag of the gear leg in the snow. The aircraft came to rest in an upright attitude heading approximately 90 degrees to the right of the landing heading. The aircraft sustained damage to the right lift strut, right ski, and to the right gear leg. The two crew members were not injured.

Cadors Number: 2005C0894

• On August 15, 2005: a Cessna 207 (C-FAWL) with a pilot and 2 passengers, was en route from Tulita to Norman Wells when Norman Wells FSS received a 'MAYDAY' from the pilot, who said that the aircraft was going down, position approximately 10 miles west of Tulita. The pilot of another company aircraft heard the call and diverted the flight to assist. At 2107, company personnel informed FSS that C-FAWL was upside down after making a forced landing in a burned out area. All personnel on board were outside of the aircraft walking around. A company helicopter was en route to pickup the personnel. One of the occupants experienced minor injuries.

Cadors Number: 2005C2125

• On August 16, 2006: a Cessna 337C aircraft (registration C-FWHP, serial number 337-0895) departed Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories, at 12:50 mountain daylight time on a flight to Norman Wells, Northwest Territories. Carrying five passengers from a funeral for a drowning victim in Fort Good Hope. At 1435, the company reported the aircraft overdue to the Norman Wells flight service station, and radio and aerial searches were initiated. The aircraft wreckage was located at 1616, approximately 23 nautical miles (nm) east of Fort Good Hope. The pilot and 5 passengers died and the aircraft was destroyed.

• On July 16, 2008: a float-equipped DHC-6 Twin Otter was on a cargo flight to Hook Lake. When the aircraft turned final for landing on the lake, the aircraft stalled and descended into trees on the shore. The pilots were not injured and later picked up.

Cadors Number: 2008C2448

• On May 4, 2009: a Beech 99 (C-FKHD) operated by North-Wright Airways, was on a VFR flight from Fort Good Hope to Inuvik (YEV) and about 10 NM south of YEV when the pilot advised Inuvik FSS of a double engine failure at 1834. The pilot force-landed on the Dempster Highway at 1838z with no reported damage to the aircraft. The pilot was the only occupant. TSB has been in contact with the company and the initial report indicates that the engines quit due to fuel exhaustion.

Cadors Number: 2009C1023