It was a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accident that resulted in a single-engine Cessna 208 Caravan colliding with the frozen surface of Family Lake while on final approach to Little Grand Rapids airport (CZGR) in eastern Manitoba in April of this year, according to a report released recently by the Transportation Safety Board.

The Caravan, with the pilot and six passengers on board, was being operated under Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Subpart 703, with Day VFR only restrictions, from St. Andrews airport (CYAV), near Winnipeg. The aircraft occupants received only minor injuries.

During the 133 nm trip, the weather was generally clear but punctuated with a few snow squalls. When the aircraft was on a 1.5-nm final for Little Grand Rapids airport, it entered another snow squall. The pilot decided to go around. However, it was while he was applying go-around power to the PT-6A turbine that the aircraft struck the surface, resulting in substantial damage to the Cessna.

The pilot held an ATP licence and had over 12,000 hours in his logbook. He held an instrument rating but his proficiency check had expired.

The aircraft was found to be in proper operating condition at the time of impact.

See below for the full TSB investigation report.

Photo courtesy of the TSB. Marked up map courtesy of Google Earth and the TSB.