The Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s final report of the March 2016 crash of a U.S-registered MU2 at Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport (CYGR), Quebec, points to a pilot who let the aircraft get way ahead of him. Plagued by a high workload and unable to manage the aircraft’s energy state, the approach became unstable and the pilot eventually lost control of the airplane. Just a few hundred feet above the ground, the pilot added full power inducing an upset that caused the aircraft to enter a severe right roll. At no time during the approach did the pilot ever attempt a missed approach. Seven people, including the pilot, perished in the accident.
Canada’s TSB Points to Unstable Approach in MU2 Accident
Key Takeaways:
- The 2016 MU2 crash was primarily caused by the pilot's high workload and inability to manage the aircraft's energy state, leading to an unstable approach and eventual loss of control, without ever attempting a missed approach.
- The TSB found the pilot lacked sufficient proficiency and recent experience in the high-performance MU2 for single-pilot operations, exacerbating his difficulties in challenging conditions.
- Critical errors included delaying descent, ignoring deteriorating weather conditions below minimums, skipping checklists, and an abrupt full power application at low altitude while near stall speed, which induced the final upset.
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