What happened
On 3 May 2019, a Douglas DC3C-S1C3G was performing a cargo mission from Hay River/Merlyn Carter Airport (CYHY) in the Northwest Territories to Yellowknife. The aircraft was operated by Buffalo Airways with two crew members on board. Shortly after beginning the initial climb, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of power in one engine.
Following the engine failure, the crew attempted to return to the departure airport, CYHY. However, the aircraft was unable to sustain its altitude during the maneuver. The crew issued a MAYDAY call and subsequently performed a forced landing approximately 3.5 nautical miles southeast of the airport. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage during the impact, there were no injuries reported and no fire occurred following the landing.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the incident, which focused on the circumstances surrounding the engine power loss and the subsequent forced landing.