AIR A15P0081 SW4 (C-GSKC), en route North Vancouver BC Canada, 13 Apr 2015

AIR A15P0081 SW4 (C-GSKC), en route North Vancouver BC Canada, 13 Apr 2015

Publication info
Author
TSB Canada
Category
Human Factors Loss of Control
Date of publication
13/09/2017

On 13 April 2015, a Swearingen SA226 Metro II which had recently departed on a cargo flight was climbing normally when it suddenly entered an unexplained and steep descent a few minutes after takeoff. There were no communications from the pilots. It was later found to have impacted terrain after a rate of descent exceeding 30,000 fpm had created aerodynamic forces which caused structural disintegration to begin before impact. The Investigation could not determine why but concluded that alcohol intoxication almost certainly played a role and noted that indications that the Captain was a chronic alcoholic had not prompted any intervention.

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