Island Lake | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The Sandy Lake Seaplane Service Cessna 207, registration C-GHKB, was departing Island Lake, Manitoba, for St. Theresa Point, Manitoba, a VFR flight of about 7 miles. The aircraft departed runway 30 at 14:55 CDT and began a left turn about 300 feet. agl for a landing on runway 22 at St. Theresa Point. Almost immediately the aircraft entered white-out conditions in snow and blowing snow. The pilot was not IFR rated but attempted to stop the rate of descent that he noticed on the VSI. As the nose was pulled up the aircraft flew into the snow covered lake. There was no fire and the pilot was not injured. The pilot attempted to call FSS at 14:58 CDT. Communications were not established but FSS detected an ELT signal in the background of the transmission. The RCMP was notified and the pilot was rescued by snowmobile at 15:37 CDT. Company owner contacted Custom Helicopters and they dispatched two helicopters to pick up the downed pilot. Custom Helicopter was able to rescue the pilot and fly him to Island Lake nursing station. Pilot was shaken but otherwise uninjured.

Crash of a Beechcraft 100 King Air in Island Lake

Date & Time: Jan 16, 2009 at 2110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

C-GNAA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Thompson - Island Lake

MSN:

B-24

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3200

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1200

Copilot / Total hours on type:

620

Circumstances:

The crew was on a re-positioning flight from Thompson to Island Lake, Manitoba. On arrival in the Island Lake area, the crew commenced an instrument approach to Runway 12. On the final approach segment, the aircraft descended below the minimum descent altitude and the crew initiated a missed approach. During the missed approach, the aircraft struck trees. The crew was able to return for a landing on Runway 12 at Island Lake without further incident. The two crew members were not injured; the aircraft sustained damage to its right wing and landing gear doors. The accident occurred during hours of darkness at approximately 2110 Central Standard Time.

Probable cause:

Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors:
1. The crew conducted an Area Navigation (RNAV) approach for which they were not trained, with an aircraft that was not properly equipped nor approved for such purpose.
2. The aircraft descended 300 feet below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) as a result of a number of lapses, errors and adaptations which, when combined, resulted in the mismanaged approach.
3. The aural warning on the aircraft’s altitude alerter had been silenced prior to the approach, which precluded it from alerting the crew when the aircraft descended below minimum descent altitude.
4. The SkyNorth standard operating procedures for conducting a non-precision approach were not followed, which resulted in the aircraft descending below the minimum descent altitude. During the ensuing missed approach, the aircraft struck trees.
Findings as to Risk:
1. The lack of a more-structured training environment and the type of supervisory flying provided increased the risk that deviations from standard operating procedures (SOPs) would not be identified.
2. There are several instrument approach procedures in Canada that contain step-down fixes that are not displayed on global positioning system (GPS) units. This may increase the risk of collision with obstacles during step-downs on approaches.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Island Lake

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1997 at 1257 LT

Type of aircraft:

Swearingen SA226 Metro II

Operator:

Registration:

C-FNKN

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Winnipeg - Island Lake

MSN:

TC-296

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a firm touchdown on a gravel airstrip at Island Lake Airport, the crew heard a noise when the left wing dropped. Suspecting a left main gear failure, the captain initiated a go-around procedure and decided to divert to another airport with better facilities. Shortly later, the hydraulic pressure was lost and fuel quantity began to drop rapidly. The crew decided to return to land at Island Lake. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the aircraft veered off runway to the left before coming to rest. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. slid off the runway. The pilot reported a very strong cross wind and that he touched down with crab.

Probable cause:

The left main gear drag links may have failed in overload.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Island Lake

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Ministic Air

Registration:

C-FRGT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Little Grand Rapids – Island Lake

MSN:

BA-154

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Island Lake Airport (Stevenson Island), the twin engine aircraft struck the surface of a frozen lake and crashed near Garden Hill. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Island Lake

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

CF-OBO

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

N29-24

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot started the descent to Island Lake at sunset and the visibility was limited. On final approach to the lake, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the water surface and came to rest upside down. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Island Lake

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Northland Fish

Registration:

CF-CRD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed landed near Island Lake and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants were rescued.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.