De Havilland DHC-3 Otter crash, Dec 16, 2003 (2 killed)
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter accident on December 16, 2003 near Jellicoe, Ontario, Canada with 2 fatalities. Cause: Attempted takeoff from an airstrip...
- Date: December 16, 2003
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
- Location: Jellicoe, Ontario, Canada
- Fatalities: 2
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Attempted takeoff from an airstrip covered by about 18 inches of snow; the pilot did not abort the takeoff when the aircraft failed to accelerate.
A ski-equipped DHC-3 Otter took off from a snow-covered airstrip near Jellicoe carrying two passengers and supplies. It did not accelerate normally, climbed into ground effect, struck birch trees and descended steeply onto a frozen lake, where it inverted. The pilot and front passenger died. The rear passenger escaped and was rescued about 22 hours later.