Flight Details
First Air 064, a DHC-6 Twin Otter (Serial No. 427), departed Iqaluit, Northwest Territories, at 1258 UTC on a charter flight to Markham Bay and Lake Harbour, with a return to Iqaluit. The aircraft carried six barrels of Jet B fuel intended for delivery at Markham Bay, an off-strip landing site. Shortly after takeoff at 1300, the captain informed the Iqaluit Flight Service Station specialist that the estimated time of arrival for Markham Bay was 1335.
Accident Sequence
At approximately 1345, the crew reported to First Air dispatch that they were landing at Markham Bay. After touching down, the pilot initiated an overshoot. During the overshoot maneuver, the aircraft struck the ground about 200 meters past the end of the landing area, became airborne again, cleared a ridge, and then crashed onto a rocky beach. A helicopter located the airplane 629 meters from the beginning of the landing area, partially submerged in water. The two pilots, the sole occupants, sustained fatal injuries.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that, for unknown reasons, a decision was made to overshoot even though insufficient runway remained for acceleration, takeoff, and climb. Likely contributing directly to the decision to overshoot was the difficulty in controlling the aircraft on touchdown.