The sign outside Haines Junction where a Cessna U206G crashed in the early afternoon of Monday, June 10th. Photo courtesy of Village of Haines Junction Facebook.
Whitehorse, YT – Pilot error led to a plane crash in Haines Junction last year that killed one passenger and seriously injured four others, according to a new report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
The report says the Cessna 206, operated by Rocking Star Adventures Ltd., lost engine power on Jun. 10, 2024, while preparing to land after a sightseeing flight to Kluane National Park. Investigators found the pilot had not switched to the fuller fuel tank before landing, a step on the aircraft’s checklist, leaving the engine to starve of fuel.
In an attempt to realign with the runway, the pilot initiated a 180-degree turn at a steep angle. This caused a stall at low altitude and the plane crashed inverted on airport property.
68-year-old passenger Jean-Jacques Gemme was killed. The pilot and three other passengers were seriously injured.
The TSB noted the pilot routinely relied on memory rather than following checklists, a habit that contributed to the crash. Following the accident, Rocking Star Adventures updated its pilot training and operational procedures.
