What happened
During an approach to Somerset Island, the flight crew encountered severe whiteout conditions. As the aircraft was on short final for landing, the left ski made contact with the terrain approximately 150 feet before reaching the runway threshold. The impact caused the left ski to become embedded in the snow and subsequently detach from the airframe, leading to a crash.
Although the accident resulted in zero fatalities and no injuries to the two pilots, the aircraft was determined to be a total loss. Following the incident, the wreckage was transported via convoy to the Calgary Air Museum.
Findings
Investigation into the event determined that the primary factor was the crew's decision to attempt an approach while operating in visibility below established minimums due to the prevailing whiteout conditions.