What happened
On 28 February 2023, a Cessna 208B Caravan, registered as C-GMVB, departed from Nakina Airport (CYQN) in Ontario. The aircraft, operated by 1401380 Ontario Limited (doing business as Wilderness North Air), was performing a daytime visual flight rules flight destined for Fort Hope Airport (CYFH) with two pilots on board.
By approximately 1445 Eastern Standard Time that same day, the operator realized the flight was overdue. The aircraft had failed to arrive at its destination or return to its origin, and communication had ceased shortly after takeoff. Following a report to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, an aerial search was launched. On 03 March 2023, investigators located the wreckage roughly 30.8 nautical miles north-northwest of Nakina Airport.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and the subsequent discovery of the wreckage. It was determined that the impact resulted in two fatalities. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, though no post-crash fire occurred. A significant finding during the investigation was that the aircraft was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter at the time of the accident, as the device had been removed for the purpose of recertification.