Both engines running when plane crashed in remote northern Saskatchewan: TSB

WINNIPEG (CP) — Investigators have eliminated engine failure as the cause of a passenger plane crash in northern Saskatchewan.

All 25 people on board the West Wind Aviation plane survived, albeit seven with serious injuries, when it went down near the Fond du Lac airstrip after taking off on Dec. 13. There was no explosion or fire on impact. The Transportation Safety Board says investigators examined both engines at the crash site and recovered the flight data recorder. The recorder has been sent to a lab in Ottawa for further analysis, but investigators say preliminary results confirm the engines were running until the plane hit the trees and the ground.

“What we have learned so far is that the engines were operating up to the point of impact,” Eric Vermette, a regional manager for the TSB, said at a briefing in Winnipeg. “Our investigators are wrapping up the field phase of the operation and will be leaving once the aircraft is moved to a secure location.

“The examination and analysis phase is just starting and there is much work to be done.”

Vermette said they will also look at the fact all 25 passengers and crew survived.

“Part of the accident investigation is to look at the survivability of this accident,” said Vermette. “It is quite remarkable there was no fire, so that’s good news.”