Overview
On the day of the accident, the aircraft was being used to transport building materials, fuel, and supplies from Mayo, Yukon, to winter airstrips at Withers Lake and Rackla River, in support of mineral exploration activities. The accident flight carried a load of twelve 6-inch by 6-inch wood timbers, each 16 feet long, and two barrels of jet fuel.
Flight History
The pilot arrived at Mayo Airport at approximately 0630. The first trip of the day departed at 0834 to Withers Lake. Before the accident flight, the pilot completed two trips to Withers Lake and one trip to Rackla. The accident flight departed Mayo at 1448 under visual flight rules (VFR), as per the company itinerary.
Search and Rescue
At 1507, the Canadian Mission Control Centre (CMCC) received a 406-MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT) alert. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre Victoria (JRCC Victoria) was notified at 1522. Aircraft in the area were alerted, and a commercial helicopter was dispatched from Ross River, Yukon, approximately one hour later to search for the aircraft.
Wreckage
The helicopter crew located the aircraft wreckage at 1833 at an elevation of about 4300 feet above sea level, on a remote, snow-covered hillside located 38 nautical miles northeast of Mayo.
Probable Cause
The aircraft departed controlled flight for reasons which could not be determined, and broke up due to high speed.