What happened
A flight traveling from Rankin Inlet toward Chesterfield Inlet was operating with a pilot, three passengers, and cargo on board. During the mission, which began at 14:40 local time, the aircraft encountered airframe icing and heavy cloud cover around 14:55. In response to the deteriorating weather, the pilot steered the plane toward the Hudson Bay coastline and subsequently performed a left turn to realign with the destination.
Seeking an immediate landing site due to the conditions, the pilot attempted to touch down at approximately 15:05. During this maneuver, the aircraft type struck the snow-covered terrain while operating in whiteout visibility. An RCMP officer discovered the wreckage roughly half an hour after the impact. The crash resulted in four serious injuries and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor in the accident was the decision to continue VFR flight into unfavorable weather conditions, which ultimately led to the collision with the ground during an attempted landing.