THUNDER BAY – The Transportation Safety Board starting to release information on the crash of the Keystone Piper at North Spirit Lake. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) opened an investigation into the crash and deployed investigators to the site. The team has already determined some initial facts. The crash created a wreckage path of approximately 106 metres in length, that is oriented at approximately 140 degrees. The wreckage is located about 1.1 nautical miles northwest of the beginning of runway 13.
The team has found indications that the landing gear was down and the flaps were partially extended at the time of the crash. Aircraft parts (glass, panels, cargo, wing parts) were found early on the wreckage trail. The investigators also found heavy fire damage in the fuselage and the right wing area.
The team from the TSB left the accident site on 13 January, and is planning to take a further look at the engines and the propellers, and to bring out some instruments and radios although badly damaged.
The information posted is factual in nature and does not contain any analysis. Analysis of the accident, along with the Findings of the Board will become available when the final report is released. The investigation is ongoing.
The TSB is setting on a direction to gather added information:
Keystone Air Service Ltd. Flight 213, a Piper PA-31 Navajo was on a flight from Winnipeg, Manitoba to North Spirit Lake, Ontario. It crashed on a lake about 1.1 nautical miles from the runway at approximately 10:05 Central Standard Time (CST). There was a post-crash fire and 4 of the 5 people on board were fatally injured. The survivor was airlifted to a care facility by an air ambulance at approximately 13:00 CST.
The wreckage path is approximately 106 metres long.
The orientation of the wreckage path is approximately 140 degrees.
The wreckage is located about 1.1 nautical miles northwest of the beginning of runway 13.
The team has found indications that the landing gear was down and the flaps were partially extended.
Aircraft parts (glass, panels, cargo, wing parts) were found early on wreckage trail.
The team found heavy fire damage in the fuselage and the right wing area.
Next Steps the TSB team is planning to:
Take a further look at the engines and propellers;
Bring out some instruments and radios although badly damaged;
Return from the site via Red Lake today (13 January).
[ad#Google Adsense 350×250 sidebaradd]