On this day 29 years ago, Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767, was refuelled ready to fly from Montreal to Edmonton. The fuel quantity indicator system was not working, so the amount of fuel had to be calculated manually. Canada was in the process of converting to the metric system, so the quantity of fuel required had to be measured in metric units. Both ground crew and flight crew used incorrect conversions factors, so the amount of fuel on board was half of what was required.
While over Red Lake, Ontario, a warning sounded to indicate a fuel pressure problem, and shortly thereafter the left engine stopped. The pilots decided to divert to Winnipeg, and prepared for a single-engine landing; however, the right engine also stopped, cutting off the electrical power to most of the aircraft’s navigational systems. The plane’s emergency checklist gave no guidance on how to land without any engines working.
After calculating that the plane would not be able to glide as far as Winnipeg, the pilots decided to aim for a decommissioned air force base at Gimli. Unknown to them, the facility was now being used as a motorsports complex, and a race was underway that day. Because of the problems with the plane’s electrical power, the landing gear did not lock properly, and the plane landed on its nose, narrowly avoiding hitting anyone. All of the passengers and crew survived.