What happened
A series of visual flight rule (VFR) shuttle flights were being conducted between Brevoort Island and Frobisher. After completing two successful round trips, an aircraft with registration C-GROW, a Twin Otter, departed Brevoort at 21:57 local time carrying seven passengers and two pilots.
During the flight, the crew contacted the Frobisher Flight Service Station to report they were at 6000 feet. Due to deteriorating weather conditions that had fallen below VFR minimums, the crew requested and received Special VFR clearance. Subsequent weather updates indicated a ceiling of only 400 feet with visibility at 8 miles. The pilots initially planned an ILS approach for runway 36 with a subsequent landing on runway 18. After receiving an ILS approach clearance, the crew reported being outbound at procedure turn altitude and confirmed their intent to circle for runway 18.
This communication marked the final contact from the aircraft. The Twin Otter was observed traveling north along the runway path before impacting high ground approximately 1,200 feet east of the runway at an elevation roughly 100 feet above the runway level. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and there were nine fatalities.