What happened
During the final stages of an approach to Pelly Bay, an aircraft descended below a safe altitude and made contact with the terrain. The impact occurred several hundred yards before reaching the runway threshold. The incident took place while the plane was performing the downwind leg of its landing circuit.
As a result of the collision with the ground, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss. Both members of the flight crew sustained serious injuries during the event.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude while flying the downwind leg of the landing pattern.