NWAL Jetstream Down at Fort Smith

[cncpc]

10 fatal. FSS lost contact immediately after takeoff.

https://cklbradio.com/2024/01/23/36467/

[Bksmithca]

Update from CBC with confirmation of the fatalities. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/fort-smith-nwt-plane-crash-january-23-2024-1.7092137

[MichaelOLearyGenius]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1292x969/img_1996_d0b168b8019797d710d665f1ffa514405307c313.jpeg
Pic of crash aircraft

[DaveReidUK]

Pic of crash aircraft

Interesting, I haven't seen any media reports identifying which of Northwestern's 5 JS32's was the aircraft involved.

[nivsy]

This is a sad hull loss. Any news on probable cause?

[FUMR]

This is a sad hull loss. Any news on probable cause?

A little early for that I would expect.

[MichaelOLearyGenius]

This is a sad hull loss. Any news on probable cause?

There is talk of icing on other threads but too early to speculate

[cncpc]

There was wet snow falling, even though the temperature was -15. There was a departure delay awaiting 3 no shows.

[Timmy Tomkins]

Maybe a repeat of Air Florida? A classic trap, delay with snow falling. Maybe we'll find out if it had been de-iced?

[Obese]

Did this Jetstream have methanol injection?

[cncpc]

Did this Jetstream have methanol injection?
No. None of them did.

[punkalouver]

There was wet snow falling, even though the temperature was -15. There was a departure delay awaiting 3 no shows.
In all honesty, I don't think I have ever seen wet snow at a temperature of -15C.

And I have seen a lot of snow.

I would expect that dry snow was falling. The kind of snow that does not tend to stick to a cold surface.

[DaveReidUK]

Interesting, I haven't seen any media reports identifying which of Northwestern's 5 JS32's was the aircraft involved.

Confirmed now that it wasn't the pictured aircraft, but C-FNAA (originally delivered to TW Express/Trans States).

[Liffy 1M]

Confirmed now that it wasn't the pictured aircraft, but C-FNAA (originally delivered to TW Express/Trans States).

C-FNAA https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/351124

[B2N2]

This is a sad hull loss. Any news on probable cause?

Tailplane icing?

[AAKEE]

In all honesty, I don't think I have ever seen wet snow at a temperature of -15C.

And I have seen a lot of snow.

I would expect that dry snow was falling. The kind of snow that does not tend to stick to a cold surface.

Thats right.

Snow in general ”never” causes icing.
Wet snow will only be seen in above freezing temps:
Below frezing, its dry.

Having a crystal core, it does not supercool like water droplets that are missing some core to freeze on. As soon as it goes below frezing its frosen.


Freezing rain or drizzle maybe?
(Up here above the artic circle its bot that uncommon even in quite cold WX.)
I havent checked any taf/ metars for the place for the accident, but at low altitude freezing rain/drizzle can be a big issue.

We freezing drizzle (combined with light snow) that today at my airport, at minus 16C.
Did get calls from different directions with info
about people barely where able to drive their cars ( windscren covered woth thick frosen sleet)


METAR ESNG 261250Z 11003KT 3000 -SN FZDZ OVC004 M16/M17 Q1005=METAR ESNG 261220Z 11004KT 2100 -SN FZDZ OVC003 M16/M17 Q1006=

[Seat4A]

https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/aviation/2024/A24W0008/A24W0008.html

[speed13ird]

Maybe a repeat of Air Florida? A classic trap, delay with snow falling. Maybe we'll find out if it had been de-iced?
I believe the fatal Air Florida 90 accident was due to the crew failing to select the thermal anti ice protection and the subsequent block of the PT2 probes leading to inaccurate EPR indications.

[bean]

I believe the fatal Air Florida 90 accident was due to the crew failing to select the thermal anti ice protection and the subsequent block of the PT2 probes leading to inaccurate EPR indications.
Quite correct

[Bksmithca]

According to Global New the TSB has indicated they found voice recorder. https://globalnews.ca/news/10264666/plane-crash-northwest-territories-voice-recorder/

[BFSGrad]

Quite correct
Not quite correct. In addition to failure to use engine anti-ice, the NTSB’s probable cause also included operation with snow/ice wing contamination and failure to initiate RTO due to abnormal engine indications.