What happened
A medical evacuation mission involving a Twin Otter began with a departure from Goose Bay, traveling toward St. Anthony. The initial leg of the journey proceeded without incident, and the aircraft arrived at its destination at 15:24. Following the completion of the medical transport, the aircraft departed St. Anthony at 16:02 for a return trip to Goose Bay under visual flight rules (VFR). The occupants of the aircraft included two pilots, a doctor, and a nurse.
As the flight approached the Goose Bay Airport, meteorological conditions deteriorated. The crew continued to operate under VFR despite encountering fog and snow showers that likely reduced forward visibility to near zero. While it is believed the crew maintained visual contact with the ground, they may have lost the ability to see terrain ahead, making it difficult to navigate around steep elevations. During the approach, the aircraft collided with a rock outcropping located 100 feet below the peak of a 2,050-foot mountain. After impacting the terrain and bouncing twice, the Twin Otter stopped in a wooded gully roughly 350 feet from the primary impact site. There were 4 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident concluded that the flight was conducted through mountainous areas during periods of marginal weather. The aircraft was operated at an altitude that failed to provide sufficient clearance from the terrain, resulting in the collision with the mountain.