What happened
On 24 April 2019, a Beechcraft B200 operated by Keewatin Air LP was performing a positioning flight under instrument flight rules. The aircraft, registered as C-FRMV, was traveling from Winnipeg/James Armstrong Richardson International Airport toward Rankin Inlet Airport, with a planned stop at Churchill Airport. The flight was carrying two crew members and two flight nurses.
While cruising at flight level 250, the crew identified a fuel-related problem and declared an emergency. In an effort to reach safety, the crew diverted the aircraft toward Gillam Airport, Manitoba, and began an emergency descent. During this descent, both engines flamed out.
The crew attempted to reach Runway 23 at Gillam Airport but were unable to reach the runway surface. The aircraft instead made contact with the frozen surface of Stephens Lake, approximately 750 feet short of the runway threshold. With the landing gear fully extended, the aircraft struck the rocky shoreline and slid up the bank, eventually coming to a stop 190 feet before the runway threshold.
Despite the substantial damage to the aircraft, there were no injuries among the four occupants. The 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter activated following the impact, and emergency responders arrived at the scene. No fire was reported at the site.
Findings
- The flight crew initiated an emergency descent following a declared fuel issue.
- The loss of power occurred when both engines experienced flameout during the descent.