The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 24 March 2016.
Severe icing encounter and forced landing
Air Tindi Ltd.
Cessna 208B, C-FKAY
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, 18 nm W
The occurrence
The Air Tindi Ltd. Cessna 208B Caravan (registration C-FKAY, serial number 208B0470), departed Yellowknife Airport, Northwest Territories, on 20 November 2014 at 0642 Mountain Standard Time under instrument flight rules as Discovery Air flight DA223 to Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. The flight had been rescheduled from the previous night because of freezing drizzle at Fort Simpson. During the climb to 8000 feet above sea level, DA223 encountered icing conditions that necessitated a return to Yellowknife. On the return to Yellowknife, DA223 was unable to maintain altitude. At 0721, flying in darkness approximately 18 nautical miles west of Yellowknife, it contacted the frozen surface of the North Arm of Great Slave Lake. The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it struck a rock outcropping, but there were no injuries to the pilot or to the 5 passengers. The pilot established communication with Air Tindi via satellite phone, and the pilot and passengers were recovered approximately 4 hours after the landing. The emergency locator transmitter did not activate during the landing, but was activated manually by the pilot.
Media materials
News release
Lack of awareness of aircraft limitations in severe icing contributed to November 2014 Air Tindi landing on Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to Yellowknife, N.W.T., for an accident involving an aircraft
Edmonton, Alberta, 20 November 2014 - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Yellowknife, N.W.T., to an accident involving a Cessna 208 operated by Air Tindi. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A14W0181
Severe icing encounter and forced landing
Air Tindi Ltd.
Cessna 208B, C-FKAY
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, 18 nm W
Investigator-in-charge
John Tavernini has been an air safety investigator since 2012. He has been IIC on over 100 class 5 investigations and has been the technical investigator on several class 3 investigations such as the DHC6 Twin Otter accident in Antarctica. John has spent over 32 years in aviation, initially as an Avionics technician followed by attaining an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (E, M1 and M2) licence. He has experience in turbo-prop and turbo-jet aircraft and light helicopter operations. Prior to joining the TSB, John held the position of Regional Manager Aircraft Maintenance for Transport Canada Aircraft Services Directorate – Prairie and Northern Region.
Photos
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Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.