BAe Jetstream 31 crash, Jan 23, 2024 (6 killed), Fort Smith
BAe Jetstream 31 accident on January 23, 2024 near Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada with 6 fatalities. Cause: The captain kept a low pitch and...
- Date: January 23, 2024
- Aircraft: BAe Jetstream 31
- Location: Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada
- Fatalities: 6
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The captain kept a low pitch and high speed to clear snow, a main gear did not fully retract in extreme cold, and the descent after the power reduction went unnoticed (TSB).
A Northwestern Air Lease Jetstream 31 departing Fort Smith on a scheduled flight to Diavik kept a low pitch and high speed to clear snow and had trouble retracting a main gear in extreme cold, then reduced power and descended unnoticed into trees 0.5 nautical mile past the runway end. Six of the seven aboard died and one passenger survived with minor injuries. The TSB found the crew was preoccupied with the gear indication.