No fatalities

Single-engine aircraft sinks after breaking through ice on Indian Lake (CF-BXL)

Indian Lake, CanadaLanding (descent or approach)

On December 9, 1946, a Noorduyn Norseman (registration CF-BXL) operated by Canadian Pacific Airlines - CP Air was involved in an aviation accident near Indian Lake, Canada during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft broke through the ice surface during landing, causing it to sink. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft broke through the ice surface while attempting to land on Indian Lake, resulting in the immediate sinking of the airframe.

What happened

The incident occurred during an approach for landing at Indian Lake. The pilot was operating a single-engine aircraft under conditions where the water surface was covered by ice. As the aircraft touched down, the structural integrity of the ice layer failed to support the weight of the machine. Consequently, the hull penetrated the frozen surface, causing the plane to submerge rapidly into the water below.

Findings

The primary factor leading to the loss of the aircraft was the inability of the ice sheet to bear the load during the landing phase. The failure of the natural runway surface resulted in the immediate sinking of the airframe.

Probable cause

The aircraft broke through the ice surface during landing, causing it to sink.