What happened
During a cargo operation conducted for Ontario Central Airlines, an aircraft experienced a significant mechanical failure shortly after departing from Pickle Lake Airport. While performing the takeoff sequence, one of the engines ignited, resulting in an active fire.
In response to the emergency, the crew attempted to perform an unplanned landing. However, during this maneuver, the aircraft type crashed roughly 5 km away from the airfield. The impact resulted in one fatality and one serious injury among the occupants of the plane.
Findings
Investigations into the accident focused on the sudden onset of the fire during the departure phase. The primary contributing factor was an engine fire occurring after takeoff, though the specific origin or trigger for the combustion remains undetermined.