Fort Smith - Salkeld Lake

On April 17, 1977 at 12:00 AM, Fort Smith - Salkeld Lake experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-3 Otter, operated by Buffalo Airways, with the event recorded near Salkeld Lake Northwest Territories.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) 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 human factor. The single engine airplane was on a flight that day from its base at Fort Smith to Salkeld Lake, Northwest Territories. The pilot, after intentionally planning to land as close to the end of the lake as possible, overshot the selected landing area. In an attempted go-around, the aircraft could not out-climb the rising terrain. A tailwind condition prevailed at the time and the Otter was five hundred pounds over gross weight. It collided with the trees, crashed and burned, seriously injuring the two on board. Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_375.html and Karl E. Hayes.

Aircraft reference details include registration CF-QOR, MSN 375, year of manufacture 1960.