The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 20 April 2017.
Hard landing and runway excursion
Maritime Air Charter Limited
Beechcraft King Air A100, C-FDOR
Margaree, Nova Scotia
The occurrence
On 16 August 2015, a Maritime Air Charter Limited Beechcraft King Air A100 (registration C-FDOR, serial number B-103) was on a charter flight from Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Nova Scotia, to Margaree Aerodrome, Nova Scotia, with 2 pilots and 2 passengers on board. At approximately 1616 Atlantic Daylight Time, while conducting a visual approach to Runway 01, the aircraft touched down hard about 263 feet beyond the threshold. Almost immediately, the right main landing gear collapsed, then the right propeller and wing contacted the runway. The aircraft slid along the runway for about 1350 feet, then veered right and departed off the side of the runway. It came to rest about 1850 feet beyond the threshold and 22 feet from the runway edge. There were no injuries and there was no post-impact fire. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The occurrence took place during daylight hours. The 406-megahertz emergency locator transmitter did not activate.
Media materials
News release
Ineffective crew resource management and unstable approach led to August 2015 hard landing in Margaree, Nova Scotia
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to the site of an aircraft accident at Margaree Airport in Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 17 August 2015 - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a runway excursion involving a Beechcraft A100 aircraft that occurred yesterday at Margaree Airport in Nova Scotia. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A15A0054
Hard landing and runway excursion
Maritime Air Charter Limited
Beechcraft King Air A100, C-FDOR
Margaree, Nova Scotia
Investigator-in-charge
Mike Cunningham has over 30 years of experience in civil aviation and 18 years experience as a Senior Operational Investigator with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). Originally hired when the TSB was expanding its human factors investigation capabilities, Mike has a Bachelor of Science with a major in psychology as well as an Airline Transport Pilot License. Since being hired, Mike has continued to expand his knowledge in the area of human factors and organizational error, developing a strong interest in this investigative specialization.
During his years with the TSB, initially as an Atlantic Regional Investigator, Mike has been the Investigator-in-charge for over 25 TSB accident investigations. In 2003, Mike accepted a position as a Senior Operational Investigator at the TSB’s head office; since this time, the Cougar 491 accident has been the fourth high profile investigation in which Mike has participated as a TSB team member. The other investigations in which he has involved include the Pelee Island Cessna Caravan accident, the MK Airlines Boeing 747 accident in Halifax and the Global Express accident in Fox Harbour, Nova Scotia. In 2007, Mike was assigned to the TSB’s Atlantic office in Dartmouth as the Regional Manager of aviation occurrence investigations. He has worked diligently to improve safety in aviation and is well known in the East Coast aviation community.
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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.