What happened
On a scheduled charter flight from La Grande Rivière, Quebec, to Puvirnituq, Quebec, a Swearingen SA226TC carrying 13 people was performing an instrument approach to runway 19. Upon descending through the cloud layer, the co-pilot transitioned to visual flight procedures for the final approach. As the nose gear made contact with the runway, the aircraft began to veer toward the left side of the pavement.
In an attempt to maintain the centerline, the co-pilot utilized full right rudder and reduced the throttles to ground idle to prepare for reverse thrust. During this sequence, the pilot-in-command took control of the aircraft but left the throttles at ground idle. Despite applying maximum right rudder, the pilot could not stop the leftward drift. An attempt to use the nosewheel steering park button failed to correct the trajectory. The aircraft eventually departed the runway approximately 2,000 feet from the threshold, turning 90 degrees from the centerline. The aircraft fell down an embankment, resulting in the separation of the main and nose landing gear.
Findings
Investigation into the accident revealed that the aircraft drifted significantly from the runway centerline before exiting the paved surface. The 13 occupants were involved in the accident, which concluded with the aircraft coming to rest at the bottom of the embankment.