Prince Albert – Buffalo Narrows

On August 18, 1976 at 12:00 AM, Prince Albert – Buffalo Narrows experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-3 Otter, operated by RCMP - GRC Air Services, with the event recorded near Ile-à-la-Crosse Saskatchewan.

The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The Otter had taken off that day from Prince Albert on a flight to Buffalo Narrows. Six miles north of Ile-à-la-Crosse, following an engine failure, the pilot made a forced landed in the bush and the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. The flight had proceeded for one hour forty minutes without incident when there was a loud bang from the engine, followed by a complete power loss. Smoke was emitted into the cockpit and the pilot commenced a forced landing. Attempts to regain power were to no avail and the pilot transmitted a mayday, which was acknowledged by another aircraft. The Otter touched down in a semi-clear area in bush country in a nose high, full flap configuration. The pilot and passenger evacuated the Otter fearing a post crash fire, however none followed. They were located by a rescue party a short time after the crash. Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com & Karl E. Hayes.

Aircraft reference details include registration C-FMPW, MSN 271, year of manufacture 1958.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 55.4378°, -107.8992°.