Improper use of instruments nearly led to mid-air collision near Puvirnituq: TSB

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released its investigation report into the Feb. 7, 2011 risk of mid-air collision between a DHC-8-314 Dash 8 and a DHC-8-102 Dash 8, both operated by Air Inuit Ltd, near Puvirnituq.

The DHC-8-314 was flying between Puvirnituq and La Grande at 22,000 feet above sea level.

The DHC-8-102 was flying in the opposite direction at 23,000 feet above sea level.

Each aircraft was using instrument flight rules, the TSB said.

At about 117 nautical miles south of Puvirnituq, the two aircraft received a traffic advisory, followed by a resolution advisory from the traffic alert and collision avoidance system.

Avoidance manoeuvres were performed, the TSB said, and the two aircraft passed each other with a separation of 1,500 vertical feet and 0.8 horizontal miles.

“They both continued toward their respective destinations, where they landed without incident. No one was injured,” the TSB said.

The TSB investigation found that the crew of the DHC-8-102 used aircraft instrumentation “improperly”.

Air Inuit has since issued a “safety alert” prohibiting pilots from using the instrumentation in that way, the TSB said.