• N12708 de Havilland Canada Inc., Downsview, ON. Rolled out 19-Aug-1966. First flight 23-Aug-1966.

• N12708 Sold to Hawker de Havilland Australia, Bankstown, NSW. Accepted at Downsview, ON. 08-Sep-1966.

• VH-TGS Ferried by Floair Inc., Wichita, KS., to Australia. 08-Sep-1966. Arrived at Sydney, Bankstown, NSW. 20-Sep-1966.

• VH-TGS TAA - Trans Australia Airlines. Regd 06-Dec-1966. Named “Marawaka". Rather ironic considering the following accident. Used on the Sunbird services in Papua New Guinea.

Accident: Marawaka, Papua New Guinea 16-Nov-1969.Damaged in accident and returned to service.

Note: Withdrawn from service Feb-1972.

• VH-TGS Hawker de Havilland Australia, Melbourne, VIC. Regd 11-May-1972. Canx 27-Sep-1972.

• C-FCCE Sold to La Ronge Aviation, La Ronge, SK. 27-Sep-1972. Regd 17-Nov-1972.

• C-FCCE La Ronge Aviation. La Ronge, SK. Re regd Nov-1975.

• C-FCCE Leased to Mackenzie Air, Hay River, NT. Regd 19-Oct-1976.

• C-FCCE Returned from lease to La Ronge Aviation, La Ronge, SK. Regd Apr-1979.

• C-FCCE Merged with Transwest Air, Prince Albert, SK. 15-Aug-2000. Trading as Transwest Air.

• C-FCCE Transwest Air Limited, Prince Albert, SK (101008427 Saskatchewan Ltd., Prince Albert, SK). Regd 08-Nov-2001 & 24-May-2002. Canx 11-Sep-2014.

Accident: La Ronge, SK; 05-Mar-2006.Damaged in ground collision with company DHC-2-III Turbo Beaver C-FOED. Repaired & returned to service.

Accident La Ronge, (Barber Field) SK. 02-Apr-2009. The Transwest Air spring ski-equipped de Havilland DHC-6-100 (registration C-FCCE) was taking off from a ski strip east of and parallel to runway 36 at La Ronge Airport, SK (YVC). After the nose ski cleared the snow, the left wing rose and the aircraft veered to the right and the captain, who was the pilot flying, continued the takeoff. The right ski, however, was still in contact with the snow. The aircraft became airborne briefly as it cleared a deep gully to the right of the runway. The aircraft remained in a steep right bank and the right wing contacted the snow-covered ground. The aircraft flew through a chain link fence and crashed into trees surrounding the airport. The five passengers and two crewmembers evacuated the aircraft with minor injuries. There was a small fire near the right engine exhaust that was immediately extinguished by the crew.

FINDINGS AS TO CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

1.Contamination on the wings of the aircraft was not fully removed before take-off. It is likely that asymmetric contamination of the wings created a lift differential and a loss of lateral control.

2. Although the operator was not authorized for short take-off and landing (STOL) take-off on this aircraft, the crew conducted a STOL take-off, which reduced the aircraft's safety margin relative to its stalling speed and minimum control speed.

3. As a result of the loss of lateral control, the slow STOL take-off speed, and the manipulation of the flaps, the aircraft did not remain airborne and veered right, colliding with obstacles beside the ski strip.

Note: Wreckage transferred to Calgary and was observed stored at Kenn Borek Air.

• Stored •