What happened
At 13:18 Mountain Daylight Time, a float-equipped de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, registered as C-GARW, was attempting to land at the CEN9 float-plane base in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The aircraft was operating near the western shore of Great Slave Lake, adjacent to Old Town, carrying two crew members and seven passengers.
Upon touching down on the water, the aircraft experienced a bounce and porpoising motion, resulting in a heavy impact on its right float. In response to this landing instability, the flight crew attempted a go-around. During this maneuver, the plane departed the surface at a low airspeed while maintaining a nose-high and right-wing-low attitude. As the aircraft entered a rightward turn toward the shoreline, the right wing struck overhead power lines and cables. Following this contact, the aircraft's floats struck the side of an office building. The impact caused the plane to drop onto its nose and cartwheel into a nearby parking area. There was no fire following the crash.
The accident resulted in 2 fatalities among the crew and left seven passengers with injuries, including 4 serious injuries and 3 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Findings
Investigations identified that fluctuations in airspeed during touchdown, alongside gusty wind conditions, led to the initial bounced landing. The subsequent loss of control was driven by improper go-around techniques used while attempting to recover from the bounce. Additionally, it is noted that a lack of clear crew coordination during the recovery attempt may have contributed to the accident.