On May 9, 1982, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration C-GKBO) operated by Panarctic Oils was involved in an aviation accident near Arctic, World during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft sank after the ice surface failed under the pressure of a landing ski. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft carrying nine people sank after one of its skis broke through the ice during a landing near the North Pole.
What happened
During an operation conducted in the vicinity of the North Pole, an aircraft performed a landing on a surface covered in ice. Following the touchdown, one of the plane's skis penetrated the icy crust, causing the aircraft to come to a halt.
All nine people on board, which included seven passengers and two crew members, were able to exit the cabin without injury. While the occupants successfully evacuated, the aircraft remained in the unstable area and subsequently submerged into the water, resulting in the total loss of the airframe.
Findings
The structural failure of the ice surface under the weight of the landing gear led to the immobilization of the plane.
The breakage of the ice surface prevented the aircraft from being recovered and led to its eventual sinking.
Probable cause
The aircraft sank after the ice surface failed under the pressure of a landing ski.
