What happened
A special flight involving a single-engine aircraft was conducting a mission to the Arctic region, transporting a group of five crew members and four scientists. The flight proceeded without incident under favorable weather conditions. Upon reaching their destination, the crew identified a section of ice to serve as a landing site.
During the landing sequence, the right ski of the aircraft breached the surface of the ice. This caused the aircraft to come to an immediate stop. As the weight of the plane pressed into the surface, the aircraft began to sink into the frozen terrain. All nine occupants were able to exit the aircraft safely before it was completely submerged and lost.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor was the selection of an inappropriate landing zone. The crew chose a location where the ice thickness was insufficient to support the weight of the aircraft, violating established landing procedures.