Investigation Summary
The flight was a charter transporting members of the 101st Airborne Division home for Christmas. After a refueling stop in Gander, the aircraft attempted takeoff from Runway 22 in freezing precipitation. The aircraft struggled to climb, crossed the Trans-Canada Highway at a very low altitude, and crashed into a wooded area less than a mile from the runway. The majority of the CASB board concluded that ice contamination on the wings, combined with an underestimated takeoff weight, led to a stall. However, a minority report suggested an onboard explosion or fire occurred before impact, leading to decades of conspiracy theories and public debate.
Final Conclusions
The official CASB report cited the probable cause as an unexpected increase in drag and reduction in lift due to ice contamination on the wings' leading edges and upper surfaces. Contributing factors included the crew's failure to de-ice the aircraft and inaccurate weight and balance calculations. A dissenting opinion by four board members argued that evidence pointed to an in-flight fire or explosion of unknown origin.
Video Analysis
The Controversial Crash of Arrow Air Flight 1285 — A detailed look at the crash of Arrow Air 1285 and the conflicting theories between the official report and the dissenting investigators.
Watch on YouTube ↗If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Wing Anti-Ice
System designed to prevent ice buildup; however, it is typically not used during the takeoff roll itself and cannot remove ice already present on the ground.
Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
The FDR was an older foil-type model which provided limited data, complicating the investigation into the aircraft's final moments.
Interesting Facts
- 01This remains the deadliest aviation accident on Canadian soil.
- 02The passengers were members of the 101st Airborne Division returning from a peacekeeping mission in the Sinai Peninsula.
- 03The CASB investigation was so polarized it led to the dissolution of the board and the creation of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).
- 04The aircraft was estimated to be approximately 14,000 pounds heavier than the crew's calculations.
- 05Witnesses reported seeing a glow or fire emanating from the aircraft before it struck the ground.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Establishment of the TSB
Following the internal collapse of the CASB due to the Arrow Air investigation, the Canadian government formed the independent Transportation Safety Board of Canada to ensure more objective investigations.
De-icing Regulations
The accident reinforced global 'Clean Wing' regulations, emphasizing that pilots must ensure all critical surfaces are free of frost and ice before takeoff.