What happened
On May 1, 2019, an aircraft departed from CYYR, operating under a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan destined for BGBW. The flight was being conducted as a ferry mission, with the pilot-in-command occupying the left seat and a co-owner seated in the right seat. During the flight, the aircraft reached an altitude of 2000 feet above sea level. Because the flight path and altitude remained relatively constant throughout the journey, it is believed that the autopilot was active during the transit.
At approximately 08:16, the aircraft struck a hill with an elevation of 2250 feet, situated roughly 35 nautical miles southeast of Makkovik Airport (CYFT) in Newfoundland and Labrador. The impact occurred roughly 200 feet below the summit of the terrain. The aircraft landed in deep snow on a steep slope, resulting in extensive damage to the fuselage, both wings, the nose gear, and the propeller. While the cabin structure suffered crush damage, the survival space within the cockpit remained intact, and no fire occurred following the crash.
The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. An emergency locator transmitter signal was detected by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax at 08:23. Due to the pilot's use of a personal satellite tracker, a personal locator beacon, and a handheld VHF radio, communication with search and rescue teams was established. However, heavy blizzard conditions and near-zero visibility prevented aerial rescue efforts. Ground teams from Makkovik reached the wreckage approximately four hours later via snowmobile to evacuate the survivors.
Findings
- The aircraft struck a snow-covered hill while flying at an altitude below the summit elevation.