What happened
While performing an IFR mail delivery flight from Fort Vermilion, the aircraft was attempting to land on runway 30 at Wetaskiwin Airport. During the final approach, the crew encountered a layer of dense fog that obscured the runway from view. In response to the loss of visual contact with the landing strip, the crew initiated an aborted landing.
During the maneuver, the aircraft moved off the runway and came to rest in a field situated approximately half a mile northwest of the airport. The impact triggered the activation of the emergency locator transmitter (ELT). Following the accident, the crew utilized a mobile phone to contact emergency services.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
- The incident resulted in two serious injuries to the pilots.
- Dense fog prevented the crew from maintaining visual contact with the runway during the landing phase.