Report says plane in Nunavut crash touched down hard on approach

An initial report into the deadly crash of a passenger plane in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut suggests the aircraft overran the runway on its second attempt at landing.

Six-month-old Isaac Appaqaq was killed in the Dec. 22 crash, while the two pilots and six other passengers were injured.

The Transport Canada occurrence report from the crash says the Perimeter Aviation turbo-prop plane, en route from Winnipeg, touched down hard on its second approach and came to rest between 150 and 200 metres past the end of the runway.

The report says a military search and rescue crew were put on alert when the crash first happened, but the RCMP confirmed that everyone was accounted for and no further assistance was required. 

Wreckage removed from site

According to André Larabie, who works for the Municipality of Sanikiluaq, wreckage from the crash has been removed and placed in two sea can containers. They will be sent south with the first barge leaving the community in the summer.

Larabie says personnel from Perimeter Aviation have also left Sanikiluaq. He says the airline flew two mechanics into the community to help the hamlet crew dismantle the plane.

"The company made the decision that the best thing to do would be to, since it could not be salvaged and used, that it would be dismantled and put into sea cans"   He adds that the hamlet wanted the plane removed so it would not be a constant reminder for the family of Isaac Appaqaq.

Larabie says an inspector from the Transportation Safety Board flew into Sanikiluaq for a day and took pictures. The TSB and RCMP continue to investigate.