Air transportation safety investigation A13O0098
The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 12 February 2015.
Table of contents
Hard landing and tail strike
Porter Airlines Inc.
Bombardier DHC-8-402 C-GLQO
Sault Ste. Marie Airport
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
The occurrence
The Porter Airlines Inc. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (registration C-GLQO, serial number 4270) was operating as POE689 on a scheduled flight from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Ontario, to Sault Ste. Marie Airport, Ontario. During touchdown on Runway 30 at 2216 Eastern Daylight Time, the tail struck the runway. After landing, the aircraft taxied to the gate, where the passengers were deplaned. There were no injuries to passengers or to the crew; however, there was substantial damage to the aircraft. The occurrence took place during the hours of darkness. The emergency locator transmitter was not activated.
Media materials
News release
Unstable approach a factor in 2013 Sault Ste. Marie tail strike incident
Read the news release
Deployment notice
Transportation Safety Board of Canada deploys a team to the site of an incident involving a Porter Airlines aircraft in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario, 27 May 2013 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team to the site of an incident at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport. Last night, a Porter Airlines aircraft was involved in a tail strike. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Mr. Rowntree has 26 years of civil aviation experience. He joined the TSB in November 1997 as an investigator/technical specialist in the TSB Air Investigations Ontario Regional Office, in Richmond Hill, Ontario
Prior to joining the TSB, he worked as an aircraft maintenance supervisor in the arctic for a major Canadian air carrier. During that time, he maintained and supervised the maintaining of different aircraft types, from small aircraft to the larger commuter and jet aircraft. Mr. Rowntree was also certified flight attendant and volunteer fire fighter.
Since joining the TSB, Mr. Rowntree has participated in numerous investigations and several major TSB investigations, most notably; the 1998 investigation into Swiss Air 111 in Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, the 2004 investigation into the MK Airlines accident in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the 2005 investigation into Air France accident in Toronto, Ontario, the 2009 Cougar Helicopter accident in St. John's, Newfoundland and the 2011 First Air accident in Resolute, Nunavut. On behalf of the TSB, he has also assisted numerous foreign investigation agencies in their investigations of accidents abroad.
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.