De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter crash, Feb 4, 2009, La Ronge
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident on February 4, 2009 near La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada with no fatalities. Cause: Wing contamination not fully...
- Date: February 4, 2009
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
- Location: La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Wing contamination not fully removed before takeoff, causing asymmetric lift and loss of lateral control, made worse by an unauthorized short takeoff that reduced the margin above stall and minimum control speed.
A ski-equipped Transwest Air DHC-6 Twin Otter took off from a ski strip at La Ronge on a charter using a short takeoff technique the operator was not authorized to use. The aircraft veered right, briefly became airborne over a gully, then its right wing hit the snow. It crashed through a fence and into trees near the airport, and the crew put out a small engine-area fire. All seven occupants evacuated with minor injuries.