Miscommunication led plane to crash land in 8 inches of snow in northern Ont.

A Thunder Airlines plane travelling from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie crashed in Wawa, Ont., in 2023 because the pilot believed the runway had already been cleared of snow.

In fact, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada said the runway was covered by snow six to eight inches deep, causing the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 aircraft to slide into a ditch.

The board released its investigation into the Nov. 27, 2023, crash on Thursday. The plane was heading to Wawa to pick up a patient for medical transfer. There were only minor injuries.

“The flight included a stop at Wawa Aerodrome … to pick up a patient for a medical transfer to (the Sault),” the TSB said in a news release.

A member of the flight crew called the Wawa Aerodrome at 5:50 a.m. that day, speaking to an employee who was handling after-hour questions.

“During the call, the flight crew member learned of ongoing light snowfall and understood that the runway would be plowed by about 07:30,” the TSB said.

The plane left at 6:53 a.m. with two flight crew members and a paramedic on board and headed for Wawa.

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada said the runway was covered by snow six to eight inches deep, causing the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 aircraft to slide into a ditch. (TSB photo)

Aerodrome staff arrived at the airport between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m., along with an ambulance carrying the patient that was being transferred to the Sault.

While aware the plane was coming, the aerodrome staff had not yet plowed the runway.

“The staff began their morning duties, which included preparing the snow removal vehicles to clear the runway,” the TSB report said.

“There was no radio communication between aerodrome staff and the occurrence flight crew.”

As the aircraft neared the runway, it activated the runway lights using the aircraft radio control of aerodrome lighting system.

“They visually spotted the runway when they were about 10 nautical miles away on final approach,” the TSB said.

The plane touched down at 7:39 a.m., landing in the deep snow and began sliding to the right.

“The aircraft continued sliding sideways off the runway while facing the opposite direction of landing and came to rest on its left side in a drainage ditch, about 78 feet from the runway’s edge,” the TSB said.

“The aircraft was extensively damaged; the right engine propeller blades penetrated the cabin before the engines were shut down.”

The investigation revealed the plane rotated about 180 degrees before coming to a full stop in a drainage ditch. With fuel leaking heavily, the aircraft was quickly evacuated and the occupants trudged through the deep snow to safety.

A snow plow made its way to the area and another vehicle followed to take the occupants out of the area.

“During the impact with the drainage ditch, the aircraft’s nosewheel was torn off and the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, causing the one-piece wing to be lifted upwards,” the report said.

“The emergency exit on the right side of the fuselage was damaged and blocked by the wing. The outboard ends of the right engine propeller blades penetrated the fuselage by about 18 inches, cutting an extensive gap into the fuselage.”

The investigation revealed that a miscommunication between aerodrome staff and the flight crew caused the crash. The flight crew was set for a landing at 7:30 a.m., believing the runway would be plowed. But the aerodrome staff were aiming to have it plowed by 9 a.m.

While the pilot received updated weather reports en route, no current information was available on the status of the Wawa runway. The report from the previous day said the runway was covered with ¾ of an inch of snow.

“During the approach, the flight crew could see the runway lights,” the TSB report said.

Thought it was light snow

“Although there was limited daylight, the crew saw snow on the runway but believed it to be light snow, as reported by the aerodrome employee.”

An aerodrome employee saw the aircraft approaching, but didn’t try to contact the pilot.

“The ambulance driver asked whether the plow driver was going to plow the runway before the aircraft landed, but the plow driver intended to plow after the aircraft landed,” the report said.

After the accident, Thunder Airlines issued a directive to all flight crews, requiring them to have confirmation of runway conditions before they depart. And crews must have confirmation that a runway has been cleared before landing.

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“In remote aerodrome operations, aerodrome operators, pilots, and air carriers need to establish effective communications, so that arriving flight crews are aware of important aerodrome information,” the TSB said.

“It is important that flight crews are aware of actual runway conditions before landing to ensure the landing can be accomplished safely.”

Read the full report here.