Incident Overview
The aircraft was chartered by the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, a national Eskimo organization, to return delegates to their home settlements after a week-long land claims conference at Pond Inlet. During the flight, the crew received information that landing at Frobisher Bay was not possible due to deteriorating weather conditions. The crew decided to divert to another aircraft. A few dozen minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the captain informed air traffic control that he was low on fuel and needed to land. The captain subsequently completed a belly landing on open terrain approximately 80 kilometers north of Frobisher Bay. All 26 occupants were rescued. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair and was abandoned at the site.
Aftermath
Emergency services responded to the landing site. The occupants were safely evacuated from the aircraft. The wreckage was left in place, as the aircraft was deemed not recoverable.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the incident was an emergency landing due to a fuel shortage.