SIOUX LOOKOUT – Back in March, the Transportation Service Board begin their investigation into a Cessna 2-0-8 cargo aircraft that plummeted into the frozen surface of Lac Seul Lake. The aircraft was severely damaged, but the one pilot and one passenger survived with minor injuries.
According to the TSB, the accident occurred while the aircraft was crossing the frozen, snow-covered lake at a low altitude. The snow squalls that were passing through generated whiteout conditions.
Blinded by the whiteout conditions, the aircraft begin descending due to turbulence from the snow squalls. The pilot pulled back on the control column to stop the descent; however, it was too late as the aircraft struck the frozen surface of Lac Seul Lake.
The TSB’s report states that due to weather conditions and road closure, it took the investigators five days to reach the wreckage.
Once crews were able to reach the downed aircraft, they found it nose-down with the fuselage on its left side. Snow had entered the cockpit through window openings.
The cockpit and cabin remained largely intact and provided a survivable space, but due to the snow entering the cockpit and fuselage being on its left side, the occupants were unable to escape. Both cockpit seats remained floor-mounted to the seat rails. The five-point harnesses remained attached to their mounting points.
Neither the pilot nor passenger is named in the report, but it reveals the pilot began his flying career in June 2019 at Bamaji. The pilot has approximately 1315 hours of total flying time, which includes 126 hours on the Cessna 2-0-8 aircraft, and 48.3 hours were logged within the 30 days before the accident.
The report also states that fatigue did not play a role in the accident.
