Gimli Glider's Remarkable Deadstick Landing
July 23rd, 1983
July 23rd, 1983
How Long Ago?
41 years, 7 months, 20 days ago
Location
Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
Category
Transportation & Infrastructure
People
- Robert Pearson
- Maurice Quintal
Links & References
Tags
Gimli Glider's Remarkable Deadstick Landing
Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767, ran out of fuel during a flight from Montreal to Edmonton. Piloted by Captain Robert Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal, the aircraft began experiencing a fuel shortage shortly before its scheduled landing. With no power and a glide ratio to manage, they successfully executed a deadstick landing on the runway of the Gimli Glider, a former Royal Canadian Air Force base. This incident highlighted the importance of accurate fuel calculations in aviation.
Aircraft ran out of fuel mid-flight.
Crew executed a successful deadstick landing.
Incident highlighted fuel management issues.
No injuries reported for passengers or crew.
What Happened?
Air Canada Flight 143 was a scheduled passenger flight that faced an extraordinary crisis while en route from Montreal to Edmonton. Taking off on July 23, 1983, the Boeing 767 was filled with 69 passengers and a crew of 5. After a problematic fuel calculation error, which involved switching from imperial to metric units, the aircraft took off with insufficient fuel. As the plane approached Winnipeg, the crew realized they were in serious trouble. They declared an emergency after discovering that they had completely run out of fuel. With only a few moments to act, Captain Robert Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal maintained their composure despite overwhelming odds against them. They contemplated their options: diverting to Winnipeg or trying to land at Gimli, a decommissioned airport that was now a drag racing strip. Eventually, they chose Gimli due to its proximity. The pilots executed a commendable deadstick landing without engine power, gliding the jet down and successfully touching down safely, with no injuries among those on board. The aircraft sustained some damage, but all passengers and crew survived without serious injury, making the outcome notably fortunate given the circumstances.
Why Does it Matter?
The Gimli Glider incident is significant in aviation history because it underscored the critical importance of precise fuel management and contributed to changes in aviation protocols. Following the event, Air Canada and other airlines improved their training programs to emphasize the importance of fuel measurement and the consequences of human error. It is also regarded as a demonstration of exceptional piloting skills and crew resource management under pressure, providing valuable lessons for flight safety.
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