Narrative:The Cessna Caravan, C-GGUH, was on a visual flight rules flight, at night, from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, to Inuvik-Mike Zubko Airport, when instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) were encountered. Before entering the Inuvik control zone, the pilot contacted the air traffic controller and was issued an instrument approach clearance for runway 23 at 19:32 local time. During the approach the aircraft contacted a hill top four nautical miles north of the airport and came to rest in an upright position. The aircraft was substantially damaged; the pilot and the one passenger sustained minor injuries.
Probable Cause:
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors
1. The pilot did not adequately plan for the IFR approach, did not execute the approach in a manner so as to align the aircraft with the runway, and flew into terrain.
2. The pilot=s low comfort level with IFR procedures coupled with the relatively short time to organize for the assigned approach most likely resulted in the pilot losing situational awareness.
3. The pilot did not use the autopilot or the radar altimeter to reduce workload and provide terrain alerting during the approach.
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | TSB Canada  |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 1 year and 1 months | Accident number: | A01W0269 | Download report: | Final report
| Language: | English |
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Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Tuktoyaktuk Airport, NT to Inuvik/Mike Zubko Airport, NT as the crow flies is 126 km (79 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.