What happened
During a scheduled return flight from Pond Inlet to Nanisivik, an aircraft was performing a night visual approach at 8,000 feet. Prior to the accident, the crew had completed two legs of their journey and refueed at Pond Inlet. All radio communications remained routine until the final transmission from the First Officer, which indicated the aircraft was on left base and preparing to turn final. Although a wind check was transmitted to the crew, there was no response.
A witness observed the DHC-6 moving erratically before it impacted the ground approximately 2,200 feet before reaching the runway. At the moment of impact, the aircraft was in a steep 80° right bank with a 45° nose-down attitude. The accident resulted in eight fatalities.
Findings
Meteorological assessments revealed that low-level turbulence and vertical windshear, measuring between 10 and 12 knots per thousand feet, were present during the approach. Other pilots also reported experiencing varying levels of turbulence while approaching the same runway around the time of the event.
Initial technical inspections noted that the right engine was operating at or below flight idle upon impact. While investigators could not definitively confirm an engine failure through component analysis, later evidence suggested a potential mechanical issue. Specifically, findings from separate accidents involving other DHC-6 aircraft pointed toward the possibility of in-flight failures regarding flap and aileron control rods due to stress corrosion. Because the wreckage of CF-ABW was buried under significant debris and shale at a local dump, making recovery impossible, the investigation was closed after the identified control rod deficiency had been addressed by manufacturer actions.