What happened
A twin-engine aircraft departed from Fort McMurray Airport at 17:06 local time, bound for Edmonton. The flight was operated by two pilots, with the first officer at the controls. During the descent to 5,500 feet for a visual approach to runway 30 at Edmonton Municipal Airport, the crew was flying below the cloud layer. Approximately 40 miles north of the destination, the aircraft was positioned between the lights of Fort Saskatchewan and the Edmonton airport.
While on a stable but low final approach, the twin-engine airplane performed a sudden, sharp left bank and descended at a steep angle. The aircraft struck and penetrated the mechanical penthouse of the six-storey Royal Alexandra Hospital before coming to rest on the larger roof area. The impact destroyed the aircraft. Of the two crew members on board, both sustained serious injuries; however, one fatality occurred when the pilot died from their wounds the following day.
Findings
Investigations determined that the aircraft experienced a reduction or loss of engine power to one or both engines for reasons that remained undetermined. This loss of power caused the aircraft to deviate from controlled flight during its final approach.