Calgary Airport, WestJet Airlines Flight Collides With A Vehicle Leading To Many Fatalities

Tail Strike Incident at Calgary Airport Prompts Safety Review and Pilot Retraining

A routine WestJet Encore flight from Fort McMurray to Calgary turned into a critical safety incident on April 13, 2024, when the aircraft experienced a tail strike during landing at Calgary International Airport. Although no injuries were reported among the 78 passengers and four crew members, the event raised serious concerns over landing techniques and pilot training procedures.

—

Incident Overview

The aircraft involved was a Bombardier DHC-8-402, operating as WestJet Encore flight WEN3136. During the landing sequence, the aircraft’s tail struck the runway surface. Despite the contact, the plane was able to taxi safely to the gate, where passengers deplaned normally.

Initial cockpit alerts showed a “TOUCHED RUNWAY” warning, prompting maintenance crews to inspect the aircraft. The inspection revealed substantial damage to the aft fuselage, including:

Deformation of structural frames and stringers

Perforation of the lower fuselage skin

A broken tail strike switch

This confirmed a significant tail strike event had occurred, prompting an immediate investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).

—

Investigation Findings

The TSB’s findings indicate that the first officer, who had logged only 184 hours of experience on the DHC-8-400 aircraft, was in control during the final stages of the landing. Manual control was assumed at approximately 500 feet above ground level. Throughout the approach, the captain intervened three times to request increased engine power and pitch corrections.

Crucially, just two seconds before touchdown, the aircraft’s pitch increased rapidly from five degrees to 8.3 degrees, which exceeded safe landing parameters. This increase resulted in the aircraft’s tail making contact with the runway.

Such a tail strike typically occurs when an aircraft’s nose is raised too high during landing, causing the rear underside of the fuselage to hit the ground.

—

Training and Safety Measures

While tail strikes are not uncommon in aviation, the TSB noted that this was not the first time such an incident occurred involving a DHC-8 aircraft. In fact, similar events have been recorded since at least 2002.

Following earlier incidents, the aircraft manufacturer had already issued updated training materials to highlight the importance of:

Proper pitch control during landing

Awareness of energy management

Maintaining optimal approach and descent angles

As a result of the April 2024 incident, both pilots involved were subjected to additional simulator training, focusing specifically on pitch awareness and safe landing practices. In addition, WestJet Encore proactively updated its training curriculum to reinforce:

Manual landing techniques

Proper coordination between captain and first officer

Timely interventions during approach and landing

The airline has committed to implementing ongoing monitoring to ensure adherence to new training guidelines.

—

Conclusion

Although no fatalities or injuries occurred, the Calgary tail strike incident has drawn attention to the importance of thorough training and experience when operating complex aircraft like the Bombardier DHC-8-402. The Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations underscore a critical lesson: pilot awareness, communication, and adherence to procedure remain the strongest defenses against operational mishaps.

The aviation industry will be watching closely to ensure that these changes translate into long-term improvements in flight safety, not just for WestJet Encore but across all regional carriers operating similar aircraft.