What happened
During an approach to the gravel airstrip at Island Lake Airport, the pilot performed a landing with a significant crab angle due to intense crosswinds. Upon a firm touchdown, the crew noted an unusual sound accompanied by the left wing dropping. Fearing a failure of the left main landing gear, the captain executed a go-around to divert to an alternative airfield with superior infrastructure.
During the subsequent flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of hydraulic pressure and a rapid decrease in fuel levels. Given these complications, the crew elected to return to Island Lake Airport. During the second landing attempt, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft type involved drifted off the left side of the runway and came to a stop. There were no injuries among the 11 occupants on board, though the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
- The pilot reported encountering very strong crosswinds during the initial landing attempt.
- A critical loss of hydraulic pressure and rapid fuel depletion occurred during the diversion phase.