What happened
On a scheduled domestic flight from Timmins, Ontario, to Moosonee, Ontario, Frontier Air Flight 1602, operating the Beechcraft C99 Airliner with registration C-GFAW, was conducting an approach to its destination. The flight, which included a two-pilot crew and two passengers, was cruising at 7,000 feet before receiving clearance for an approach to Moosonee with a temporary altitude restriction of 5,000 feet. The crew opted to utilize the VOR runway 24 approach.
During the descent, the aircraft transitioned through the lowest cloud layer at 900 feet above sea level while approximately 9.2 nautical miles from the VOR. Upon gaining visual contact with the runway lights, the captain transitioned the flight to a visual approach, intending to proceed inbound at 700 feet. As the captain began the landing gear extension and the before-landing checklist, the aircraft impacted trees approximately seven miles east-northeast of the Moosonee Airport. The accident resulted in one fatality and three injuries.
Findings
- The crew transitioned from an instrument-based approach to a visual approach after breaking through the cloud layer.
- The impact occurred shortly after the pilot initiated the landing gear down position and the landing checklist.