Sikorsky S-76A crash near Moosonee, Canada

An Ornge air ambulance Sikorsky S-76A helicopter crashed into a densely wooded area north of Moosonee Airport, Ontario, 23 seconds after takeoff at 12:11 a.m. The helicopter was departing for Attawapiskat to pick up a pediatric patient. As the aircraft climbed through 300 feet into complete darkness, the first officer commenced a left turn while the crew carried out post-takeoff checks. The bank angle increased and an inadvertent descent developed. The captain recognised the excessive bank and descent too late to recover. All four on board were killed: Captain Don Filliter, First Officer Jacques Dupuy, and flight paramedics Chris Snowball and Dustin Dagenais. The TSB investigation found the pilots, although qualified under Transport Canada regulations, were not proficient for the nighttime conditions in remote Northern Ontario where no ambient lighting exists. The TSB issued 14 recommendations and concluded it was a systemic failure rather than individual pilot error. Ornge subsequently replaced its S-76 fleet with AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters and introduced night-vision goggles.