News release

Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report (A21Q0131) into the 2021 lateral runway excursion involving a Beechcraft King Air B200 in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut.

On December 17, 2021, the aircraft, operated by Keewatin Air LP, was on a medical evacuation flight from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, with two flight crew members and two medical staff on board. During the landing, the aircraft started to drift to the left. The pilot attempted to keep it on a straight path but was unsuccessful. A go-around was initiated to take off again, but the aircraft ended up exiting the runway and coming to rest on the south side. The four occupants were able to exit safely; however, the aircraft was substantially damaged.

The investigation found that, in the absence of precise data on the aircraft’s performance limitations, the flight crew decided to proceed with an approach in strong crosswind conditions, relying on previous successful landings in similar conditions and a plan for a go-around if control issues arose. As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, no deviations were observed, and the approach remained stable, so the crew chose to land. However, the strong crosswind and limited tire traction caused the aircraft to drift left. Despite the pilot-in-command's attempt to execute a go-around, the aircraft exited the runway surface shortly after.

Additionally, two findings as to risk were identified during the investigation. If air operators have little information on runway conditions and associated aircraft performance, there is a risk that flights will be authorized in conditions beyond the aircraft’s landing performance capabilities. Furthermore, if an uncontrolled lateral drift of the aircraft occurs after landing and a go-around is initiated while the aircraft is in a low-energy state, there is a risk that if a runway excursion occurs, it will be exacerbated, or if the aircraft takes off in this state, that a loss of control or controlled flight into terrain will occur.

See the investigation page for more information.