What happened
On the evening of March 30, 2001, a Cessna 2D10F, registration N5812F, was conducting a visual flight rules ferry flight from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, to Whitehorse, Yukon. The aircraft, operated by a pilot with limited instrument experience, was traveling from Kansas to Alaska. During the flight, the pilot had been informed of heavy snow showers along the route that could result in conditions below visual flight rules minimums.
At approximately 1935, the aircraft struck the snow-covered surface of Teslin Lake, roughly four miles west of Teslin, Yukon. The impact occurred during a left turn while the aircraft was in a nose-low attitude. The aircraft broke up upon impact. The pilot, the sole occupant, survived the initial impact but died from the combined effects of hypothermia and blood loss. The wreckage was not located until the following morning.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the pilot's records to determine the sequence of events. The aircraft was found to be in a well-maintained condition, with no evidence of mechanical failure or engine malfunction prior to the crash. The aircraft was properly equipped with a GPS and carried sufficient fuel for the mission. However, it was noted that shoulder harnesses were not installed in the cabin.
Regarding the search efforts, investigators found that the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was in the OFF position. Although the unit was functional and the gravity switch would have activated the signal during the crash, the manual switch prevented any transmission. This lack of signal contributed to the delay in locating the site.
Findings
- The pilot continued the flight despite facing adverse weather conditions.
- The aircraft struck the lake surface because the pilot lost visual reference due to whiteout conditions.
- The ELT was switched to the OFF position, which prevented the transmission of an emergency signal and delayed the discovery of the wreckage.