Accident Details
The Sandy Lake Seaplane Service Cessna 207, registration C-GHKB, departed Island Lake, Manitoba, at 14:55 CDT on a VFR flight to St. Theresa Point, a distance of approximately 7 miles. The aircraft took off from runway 30 and began a left turn at about 300 feet above ground level in preparation for landing on runway 22 at St. Theresa Point. Almost immediately after the turn, the aircraft encountered white-out conditions in snow and blowing snow. The pilot, who was not IFR rated, observed a rate of descent on the VSI and attempted to stop it by pulling the nose up. During this maneuver, the aircraft flew into the snow-covered lake.
Rescue
There was no fire, and the pilot was not injured. At 14:58 CDT, the pilot attempted to call the Flight Service Station (FSS), but communications were not established. However, the FSS detected an ELT signal in the background of the transmission. The RCMP was notified, and the pilot was rescued by snowmobile at 15:37 CDT. The company owner contacted Custom Helicopters, which dispatched two helicopters to retrieve the downed pilot. Custom Helicopter successfully rescued the pilot and transported him to the Island Lake nursing station. The pilot was shaken but otherwise uninjured.