Air transportation safety investigation A13C0105
This investigation hwas completed 6 January 2015.
Table of contents
Loss of control – collision with water
Transwest Air Limited Partnership
de Havilland DHC-3 Otter, C-FSGD
Ivanhoe Lake, Northwest Territories, 7 nm S
The occurrence
On 22 August 2013, the Transwest Air float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3T Otter, C-FSGD, was reported overdue on a flight from Scott Lake, Northwest Territories, to an outpost camp in the area. The Rescue Coordination Centre tasked an aircraft to the coordinates provided by the operator, and discovered the wreckage 7 nm SE of Ivanhoe Lake. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The RCMP dive team and TSB investigators were deployed.
Media materials
News release
Damage to wing from a tree strike likely contributed to the fatal 2013 crash of a float plane in the Northwest Territories
Read the news release
Deployment notice
Transportation Safety Board of Canada deploys a team of investigators to the site of a de Havilland DHC-3T Otter accident southeast of Ivanhoe Lake, Northwest Territories
Winnipeg, Manitoba, 26 August 2013 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Ivanhoe Lake, Northwest Territories, where a de Havilland DHC-3T Otter, owned by Transwest Air, crashed on the evening of 22 August 2013. Investigators will arrive at the site tomorrow afternoon. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Mr. Barrett joined the TSB in March 2010 as a Technical Investigator/Air in the Central Region office located in Winnipeg. He has over 40 years of maintenance experience on fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Mr. Barrett holds an M1/M2 AME licence, and has held various positions maintaining numerous types of aircraft for operators in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Before joining the TSB, he was an instructor for four years in the Aircraft Maintenance diploma and apprenticeship programs at Red River College, Stevenson Campus, in Winnipeg. Since joining the TSB, Mr. Barrett has participated in numerous TSB investigations.
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.