The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 9 March 2020.
Runway excursion during take-off roll
Air Creebec Inc.
de Havilland DHC-8-102, C-GTCO
Rouyn-Noranda Airport, Quebec
The occurrence
On 23 January 2019, a de Havilland DHC-8-102 aircraft (registration C-GTCO, serial number 119) operated by Air Creebec Inc. was conducting a scheduled flight from Rouyn-Noranda Airport, Quebec, to Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, Quebec, with 3 crew members and 6 passengers on board. At 2135 Eastern Standard Time, the aircraft began its take-off roll on Runway 26. The aircraft began to veer to the left and continued to do so until the left main landing gear rolled off the surface of the runway and hit a snow windrow 5 feet beyond the edge of the runway. The aircraft continued to veer to the left and came to rest in a compacted snowbank 40 feet from the runway. One of the passengers received minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, landing gear, and propellers. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness, when visibility was reduced to approximately 2 statute miles in snow showers. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate.
Media materials
News release
Ineffective visual monitoring during takeoff led to January 2019 runway excursion in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
Read the news release
Investigation information
A19Q0010
Runway excursion during take-off roll
Air Creebec Inc.
de Havilland DHC-8-102, C-GTCO
Rouyn-Noranda Airport, Quebec
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.