Report on deadly Resolute, Nunavut, plane crash almost done

Almost two years after one of the deadliest plane crashes in the North, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it is close to completing its report on the accident.

On Aug. 20, 2011, a First Air Boeing 737 slammed into a hill near the Resolute, Nunavut, airport. Eight passengers and four crew members were killed. Three passengers survived, with injuries.

John Cottreau, a spokesperson for the board, says the board understands that people want answers.

"What I can guarantee to you is that when we come out with our final report, people will have answers, they'll know what happened and why and industry and government will have lessons that they can learn to make transportation safer," he said.

Cottreau says the report is in the final stages of completion, but it could still be a few months before it's released.

The investigation looked at the aircraft's navigation system and training and procedures.

It also focused on the Canadian Forces' establishment of a military control zone, and the operation and co-ordination of the airspace between military and civilian agencies during that year's Operation Nanook.

The crash has led to several lawsuits which are still before the courts.

TSB making progress on Sanikiluaq report

The board says it's also making progress on its investigation of a deadly plane crash in Sanikiluaq last December.

The Perimeter Aviation chartered aircraft was on its second approach when it came down hard and overshot the runway.

A six-month-old boy died in the crash. Eight other people on board, including the pilot and co-pilot, survived.

"All of the interviews with witnesses and people involved in the occurrence have been completed. Lab examinations are completed, the cockpit voice recorder has been examined," said Cottreau.

Cottreau says these sort of investigations take time. While he could not yet say when the TSB’s report will be ready, he said work is moving ahead on the draft version.