TWINOTTERARCHIVE master index

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msn 417
DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300
C-GKBM (1)
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msn 417

Series  300

C-GBDR • (TY-???)

C-GKBM (1)

• Registration • Activity and details of Owner/Operator and other historical information

• C-GBDR de Havilland Canada Inc., Downsview, ON. Rolled out 02-May-1974. First flight 02-May-1974.

• C-GBDR Kenn Borek Air, Calgary, AB. Delivered 11-May-1974.

• C-GBDR Borek Construction Ltd., Dawson Creek, BC. On CCAR at May-1981. Canx Jan-1985. Canx 16-Feb-1989 as removed from register.

Accident: Tuktoyaktuk NWT, 18-Aug-1984 when it ran out of fuel and crashed. Stored as wreck and then rebuilt by Dec-1987.

• C-GKBM (1) Kenn Borek Air, Calgary AB, Regd 06-Jan-1988.

• (TY-???) Leased to Benintair (not delivered), Dec-1987.

• C-GKBM (1) Returned to Kenn Borek Air, Calgary AB, 06 Jan-1988 Canx 26-Aug-1988.

• C-GKBM (1) Leased to Empire Airways, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden Lake, ID, Apr-1988,

Accident: Battle Creek Mountain OR, 14-Jul-1988. The aircraft was under contract to the U.S. Forest Service. It was to be repositioned from Redmond-Roberts Field, Oregon to John Day, OR., to pick up passengers. At 11:35 PDT, the pilot checked in with John Day Dispatch and transmitted his expected time of arrival would be 12:15 PDT. About 11:40 the aircraft contacted three trees with the right wing at the 5,000-foot level of Battle Creek Mountain. This impact separated the wing into three sections before the aircraft "exited" over the mountain edge. The final impact site was on this ridgeline with the aircraft coming to final rest in a steep canyon to the east. There was a high mountain further east on the flight path that also needed to be crossed before a descent to John Day, Oregon could be commenced.

The pilot's medical records indicated the he had been having medical problems, some of which he did not want brought to the attention of the Medical Doctor (MD) designated by the FAA to do flight physicals. In addition, he did not tell his supervisor that he was having medical problems. It was noted that he had complaints of chronic muscular neck pains, back problems, falling asleep, allergy problems, numbness in the top of his feet, feeling tired and run down, and pain in his legs.

The flight track showed a gradual descent of about 400 feet per minute. He was off course to the right for about five minutes before impacting with trees. This flight tract strongly supported a very high probability of sleep-induced unconsciousness. The pilot, the sole occupant was killed in the accident.

The most probable cause of this mishap was determined to be the pilot’s acute in-flight incapacitation due to lack of sleep.

• C-GKBM (1) Borek Construction Ltd., Dawson Creek, BC. Canx 16-Feb-1989 as per CCAR.

Note. The Canadian registration of this aircraft is confused between 1988 & 1989.

Written off

C-GBDR at Merrill Field - Anchorage, Alaska.
Photo: John Kimberley © June 1979
C-GBDR at Calgary - CYYC, Alberta.
Photo: Michael J. Ody © January 1980 - Aird Archives
C-GBDR at Seattle / Boeing Field - KBFI, Washington.
Photo: Unknown photographer © August 1984
C-GKBM of BENINTAIR at Calgary - CYYC.
Photo: Anthony J. Hickey © December 1987 - Michael J. Ody Collection