Frobisher Bay

While approaching Iceland on a ferry flight from Frobisher Bay, the crew declared an emergency due to fuel shortage and requested the permission to divert to Keflavik Airport. On final approach to runway 29, both engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed on a road located 1,500 meters short of runway. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

The airplane was being used for a series of flights between Frobisher (YFB) and Brevoort Island, a distance of 119 NM. These flights were conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) with a Flight Notification filed at Frobisher. Two return flights were accomplished without incident and the aircraft was flown back to Brevoort for another round trip. On the final flight the aircraft, with the same two pilots and with seven passengers, left Brevoort at 21:57 hours local time enroute to Frobisher. The pilots contacted Frobisher Flight Service Station (FSS) at 22:31 reporting at 6000 feet altitude estimating Frobisher in 15 minutes. Upon receiving the latest weather indicating conditions below VFR limits, they requested clearance for 'Special VFR'. This clearance was granted. Another weather report was transmitted by the Frobisher FSS giving the 22:44 observation in which the ceiling had lowered to 400 ft with the visibility at 8 miles and the wind from 190 deg M at 22 knots. The pilot stated they would make a front course ILS approach to runway 36 with a landing on 18. At 22:58 they were issued a clearance for an ILS approach. They subsequently reported outbound at procedure turn altitude and at that time confirmed their planned approach for runway 36 with circling for 18. This was the last radio transmission from C-GROW. The Twin Otter was seen flying north along the runway. It then struck high ground about 1,200 feet east of the runway and about 100 feet above runway level. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.

On final approach to Frobisher Bay Airport, while passing 40 feet over the runway threshold, the twin engine airplane rolled to the left and descended out of control, causing the left wing to struck the ILS antenna. The left engine was torn off and the airplane crashed nose first and came to rest upside down on the left side of the runway. Five occupants were injured while one the pilot was killed.

The aircraft was chartered by the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, a national Eskimo organization, and was bringing delegates to a week-long land claims conference at Pond Inlet back to their home settlements. En route, the crew was informed that a landing in Frobisher Bay was not possible due to the deterioration of the weather conditions. The crew apparently decided to divert to another aircraft but few dozen minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the captain informed ATC that he was low of fuel and should land. He eventually completed a belly landing in an open land located about 80 km north of Frobisher Bay. All 26 occupants were rescued and the airplane, damaged beyond repair, was abandoned on site.

The aircraft, with two pilots and seven passengers on board was being flown from Stuttgart to Toronto via Shannon, Keflavik and Frobisher. The flight was routine as far as Keflavik. After startup at Keflavik the aircraft remained 18 minutes on the ground before takeoff. Departure was at 2131Z (27 February), and the flight was undertaken at FL390 against a 30 knot wind component, using a GNS-200 on-board navigation system. The aircraft navigation was satisfactory until 2352Z, 285 NM east of Frobisher (approximately 65° N 58° W). At this point the GNS-200 navigation system became unusable for 10 minutes due to a dropout of signals from the very low frequency ground stations on which it depended for operation. The aircraft has been tracked by a military radar network until it neared the Canadian coast. Near the coast the aircraft made a turn to the left of about 20°, but did not subsequently turn back to the right toward Frobisher, as might have been expected. Radar surveillance was not continued beyond that point. The Frobisher main, high power non-direction beacon (FY-206 Khz), went off the air at 0010Z and was restored to service at 0059Z. The standby transmitter failed to operate. At 0013Z, and ATC descent clearance was passed to the aircraft through Frobisher Aeradio; no information was included regarding the status of the radio navigation aids at Frobisher. At 0014Z, the clearance was acknowledged by the flight crew and a descent was commenced. At 0025Z, the flight radioed Frobisher that the radio beacons were not being received; then, that the DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) signals were not being received. The aircraft was at relatively low altitude by this time and lost radio contact with Frobisher. At approximately 0040Z, a small jet aircraft, believed to be CF-BRL, was observed to circle once at low altitude over the radio beacon at Brevoort Island, 120 NM east of Frobisher, and depart in the direction of Frobisher. At 0050Z, at the request of Frobisher Aeradio, an overflying airline jet contacted CF-BRL and learned it was at 4,500 feet (1,372 metres) asl. The pilots were 'lost' and asked whether Frobisher radio beacons were being received. Shortly thereafter, they reported receiving a Frobisher beacon (radio range station, FB 263 KHz, 400 watts) and altering course toward it. They sais they were low on fuel. At 0056Z, the pilot of CF-BRL announced 'both fuel lights are on and we are starting down from 4,500 feet'. The aircraft struck the side of a hill at 0058Z. The wreckage was found 120 km southeast of the destination airport. All nine occupants were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Frobisher Bay Airport, while climbing, one of the engine lost power. The crew elected to return when the airplane stalled and crashed by the airport. All three occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The aircraft was returning from a major overhaul in Toronto few days ago.

While approaching Frobisher Bay Airport by night, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few km from the airfield. All three occupants were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances 110 km northwest of Frobisher Bay. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

En route to Kuujjuaq, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The four engine aircraft crashed 44 km north of Kuujjuaq. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was rescued.

While approaching Fort Chimo on a cargo flight from Frobisher Bay, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a hill located 40 km from Fort Chimo Airport. A crew member was rescued while both other occupants were killed. For undetermined reason, the crew started the descent prematurely.