Air transportation safety investigation A23W0039

TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 14 January 2026.

Table of contents

    Landing gear collapse
    Northwestern Air Lease Ltd.
    British Aerospace P.L.C. Jetstream Model 3112, C-FCPE
    Fort Smith Airport (CYSM), Northwest Territories

    View final report

    The occurrence

    At 1025 Mountain Daylight Time on 14 April 2023, the Northwestern Air Lease Ltd. British Aerospace P.L.C. Jetstream Model 3112 aircraft (registration C-FCPE, serial number 825) departed Fort Smith Airport (CYSM), Northwest Territories, on a training flight (flight PLR732T) with the captain and the first officer on board. At 1227, the aircraft returned to the airport. Shortly after landing, the left main landing gear unit collapsed, and the aircraft veered off the runway. There were no injuries. The aircraft’s left main landing gear unit, engine, propeller, and wing tip, as well as its belly cargo pod, were significantly damaged.

    Media materials

    News release

    Undetected cracks led to aircraft landing gear collapse in Fort Smith, NWT

    Investigation information

    Photos

    Image
    A23W0039 : Position of occurrence aircraft after it came to rest, looking northwest (Source: RCMP)

      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

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.