By Simon Hradecky, created Thursday, Dec 14th 2017 09:27Z, last updated Tuesday, Apr 24th 2018 15:24Z A West Wind Aviation Avions de Transport Regional ATR-42-300, registration C-GWEA performing flight WEW-282 from Fond-du-Lac,SK to Stony Rapids,SK (Canada) with 22 passengers and 3 crew, was in the initial climb out of Fond-du-Lac at about 18:15L (00:15Z Dec 14th) when the aircraft lost height, collided with trees about 420 meters past the runway end and impacted terrain coming to rest about 600 meters past the runway at approximate position N59.3368 W107.2019. One passenger succumbed to the injuries two weeks after the accident, five passengers and one member of the crew received serious, 18 other occupants received minor injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.



Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported all occupants have been accounted for and have been taken to hospitals.



On Dec 27th 2017 the family of one of the seriously injured passengers reported, the passenger succumbed to his injuries and died on Dec 27th 2017.



The Canadian TSB have dispatched investigators on site.



On Dec 14th 2017 the TSB reported that both flight data and cockpit voice recorder are being sent to the TSB lab in Ottawa.



On Dec 15th 2017 the TSB reported: "On 13 December 2017, a ATR42-320 operated by West Wind Aviation with 22 passengers and 3 crew on board collided with terrain shortly after take-off from the Fond-du-Lac Airport, Saskatchewan (ZFD) for a flight to Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan (YSF). The aircraft sustained substantial damage. A number of passengers and one crew member sustained serious injuries. The TSB is investigating."



On Dec 16th 2017 the TSB reported that the aircraft lost height and descended into trees and terrain leaving a wreckage trail of 800 feet length. The aircraft came to rest in an upright position steeply tilted to the right, the worst damage occurred to the left side of the airframe, the fuselage ruptured at seat row 3. West Wind have taken all their ATRs out of service for the time being. The French BEA, ATR, Pratt & Whitney are participating in the investigation.



On Dec 20th 2017 the TSB reported 6 passengers and one member of the crew sustained serious injuries, 18 other occupants received minor injuries. Both engines were operating normally up to impact. The flight data and cockpit voice recorders were recovered and sent for analysis.



On Dec 22nd 2017 Transport Canada, Civil Aviation Authority of Canada, suspended the Air Operator Certificate of West Wind stating: "The department took this serious action in the interest of public safety because the department identified deficiencies in the company’s Operational Control System. An Operational Control System ensures that a company’s day-to-day actions are compliant with safety requirements for things such as, for example, the dispatching of personnel and aircraft. On December 13, 2017, a West Wind Aviation aircraft, with 25 people onboard, crashed in Fond-du-Lac, Saskatchewan. Transport Canada identified deficiencies during a post-accident inspection of West Wind Aviation from December 18 to 20, 2017. As a result, in the interest of public safety, Transport Canada suspended West Wind Aviation’s Air Operator Certificate and will not allow the company to resume its commercial air service until it demonstrates compliance with aviation safety regulations."



On Jan 5th 2018 the TSB confirmed one of the passengers died 12 days after the accident. The investigation determined the aircraft collided with trees about 1400 feet (420m) past the runway end during initial climb.



On Apr 24th 2018 the TSB reported the aircraft had encountered icing conditions during the approach to Fond-du-Lac, the crew had activated the anti-icing and de-icing systems on board of the aircraft. After landing, when the anti-icing and de-icing systems were turned off, residual ice remained on portions of the aircraft. Although manual de-icing equipment was available at the terminal, the aircraft departed with ice contamination still present and lost height shortly after takeoff. The manual de-icing equipment available at the terminal consisted of two ladders, a hand-held spray bottle with electric blanekt and wand and a container of de-icing fluid.



Local volunteer fire fighter Raymond Sanger wrote: "Quite a show tonight. Thank to all the helpers rangers. Black lake rescued teams. And everyone that helped out. I guess we’re not alone. We’ve been looked after by garden Engels tonight. And thank you God for being there with us all. All that fuel was like raining. Still nothing happened. FDL. Beautiful team work."



West Wind Aviation currently operates three ATR-42s: C-GWEA, C-GWWD and C-GWWC. On Dec 13th 2017 C-GWEA was seen departing Saskatoon,SK for Prince Albert,SK (Canada), the first segment of flight WEW-280, and departing Prince Albert for Fond-du-Lac, the second segment of flight WEW-280. The aircraft left radar coverage about half way into Fond-du-Lac and has not re-entered radar coverage since.



No weather data are available for Fond-du-Lac, the next station at Stony Rapids, located 41nm east of Fond-du-Lac, showed:

CYSF 140200Z AUTO 30003KT 270V340 9SM -SN OVC019 M09/M11 A3008 RMK SLP210=

CYSF 140125Z AUTO 34005KT 310V010 9SM -SN OVC017 M09/M11 A3008 RMK SLP210=

CYSF 140116Z AUTO 33005KT 300V010 9SM OVC017 M09/M10 A3008 RMK SLP210=

CYSF 140100Z AUTO 30003KT 280V360 9SM -SN OVC017 M09/M10 A3007 RMK SLP209=

CYSF 140051Z AUTO 29004KT 9SM -SN OVC017 M09/M10 A3007 RMK SLP208=

CYSF 140050Z AUTO 29005KT 9SM OVC017 M09/M10 A3007 RMK SLP208=

CYSF 140009Z AUTO 27004KT 9SM -SN OVC019 M09/M10 A3006 RMK SLP203=

CYSF 140000Z AUTO 27004KT 9SM OVC019 M10/M10 A3006 RMK ICG PAST HR SLP203=

CYSF 132355Z AUTO 27004KT 6SM BR BKN017 OVC023 M10/M10 A3006 RMK ICG PAST HR SLP202=

CYSF 132350Z AUTO 28003KT 3SM BR OVC019 M10/M10 A3006 RMK ICG PAST HR SLP202=

CYSF 132347Z AUTO 28003KT 3SM -SN OVC019 M10/M10 A3005 RMK ICG PAST HR SLP201=

CYSF 132341Z AUTO 28003KT 3SM -SN OVC019 M10/M10 A3005 RMK ICG INTMT SLP201=

CYSF 132335Z AUTO 28003KT 2 1/2SM -SN OVC019 M10/M10 A3005 RMK ICG INTMT SLP200=

CYSF 132322Z AUTO 27002KT 2SM -SN FEW014 OVC019 M10/M10 A3005 RMK ICG SLP199=

CYSF 132321Z AUTO 27002KT 3SM -SN FEW014 OVC019 M10/M10 A3005 RMK SLP199=

CYSF 132316Z AUTO 28003KT 4SM BR FEW014 OVC019 M10/M10 A3005 RMK SLP199=

CYSF 132314Z AUTO 27003KT 6SM BR FEW014 OVC021 M10/M10 A3005 RMK SLP200=

CYSF 132305Z AUTO 27003KT 6SM -SN FEW014 OVC021 M10/M10 A3005 RMK SLP200=

CYSF 132300Z AUTO 26003KT 3SM -SN FEW011 OVC021 M10/M10 A3005 RMK SLP199=

CYSF 132256Z AUTO 26003KT 3SM -SN FEW014 OVC021 M10/M10 A3004 RMK SLP198=

CYSF 132254Z AUTO 26003KT 2 1/2SM -SN FEW014 BKN023 OVC037 M10/M10 A3004 RMK SLP198=

CYSF 132240Z AUTO 28002KT 2 1/4SM -SN FEW013 OVC023 M10/M10 A3004 RMK SLP197=

CYSF 132236Z AUTO VRB02KT 2 1/2SM -SN FEW013 OVC023 M10/M10 A3004 RMK SLP197=

CYSF 132235Z AUTO VRB02KT 2 1/2SM -SN FEW013 OVC025 M10/M10 A3004 RMK SLP197=

CYSF 132219Z AUTO 29002KT 5SM -SN OVC027 M10/M11 A3004 RMK SLP197=

CYSF 132210Z AUTO 28005KT 9SM -SN OVC027 M10/M11 A3004 RMK SLP196=

CYSF 132200Z AUTO VRB02KT 9SM FEW012 OVC029 M10/M11 A3003 RMK SLP194=

CYSF 132146Z AUTO 29003KT 270V340 9SM SCT012 OVC031 M10/M11 A3003 RMK SLP192=

CYSF 132102Z AUTO 29003KT 7SM -SN SCT046 BKN060 OVC070 M10/M11 A3000 RMK SLP185=

CYSF 132100Z AUTO 28003KT 5SM -SN SCT044 BKN055 OVC070 M10/M11 A3000 RMK SLP183=

CYSF 132047Z AUTO 26003KT 5SM -SN BKN037 BKN055 OVC071 M10/M11 A3000 RMK SLP183=

CYSF 132042Z AUTO 25002KT 9SM -SN BKN039 BKN055 OVC073 M10/M11 A3000 RMK SLP182=

CYSF 132027Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM BKN036 BKN075 M10/M11 A3000 RMK SLP182=

CYSF 132000Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM -SN BKN038 OVC070 M10/M11 A3000 RMK SLP183=



The de-icing equiment - except ladders - available at Fond-du-Lac (Photo: TSB):





Daylight photos of the accident site (Photos: TSB):













Tail section, photo added Dec 15th 2017 (Photo: Clayton Mercredi):





Scenes at the accident site (Photo: Raymond Sanger):





Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):









</s>An initial report from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said a plane that crashed shortly after takeoff last December in northern Saskatchewan had ice on it, but added it’s too soon to determine if it was a factor that contributed to the crash.

TSB said the aircraft encountered icing conditions while landing late in the afternoon on Dec. 13 at Fond-du-Lac. The crew activated the onboard anti-icing and de-icing systems, but residual ice remained on parts of the aircraft when the systems were turn off.

The West Wind Aviation plane was not de-iced after taking on new passengers and cargo, and commenced to take off again “with ice contamination on the aircraft.”

READ MORE: TSB eliminates engine failure as cause of plane crash in northern Saskatchewan

The ATR 42-320, with 22 passengers and three crew, crashed shortly afterwards into trees and terrain just over a kilometre away from the runway.

Nine people were seriously injured and one passenger later died in hospital. Sixteen other people were injured.

West Wind had de-icing equipment available at the terminal, consisting of two ladders, a hand-held spray bottle with an electric blanket and wand, and a container of de-icing fluid.

TSB also said on Tuesday that the flight’s takeoff weight was below its maximum takeoff weight, the centre of gravity was within limits, and both pilots were certified and qualified.

Officials have not said when the final report into the cause of the crash will be released, stating “there are often many factors that can contribute to an accident,” and a number of steps still need to be undertaken before making a final determination.

Some of those steps include examining the factors as to why the plane was not de-iced prior to takeoff, determining the adequacy of the de-icing equipment at the airport, and analyzing data about aircraft operations in remote Canadian locations.

West Wind Aviation said in a statement it continues to remember those affected by the crash and are working “with authorities including the Transportation Safety Board accident investigators, as well as Transport Canada.”</s>The West Wind Aviation plane with 25 people onboard that crashed shortly after departing from the Fond du Lac airstrip was not de-iced before takeoff and was contaminated by ice, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

In an update to its investigation into the Dec. 13 crash, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its latest findings on Monday. According to TSB, the update “contains facts that the TSB has been able to validate” but the update “contains no conclusions about the factors that contributed to the occurrence.”

The final report, the TSB noted, “will include an analysis of all relevant factors” and provide the TSB’s findings.

According to the TSB’s update, the ATR 42 aircraft arrived at the Fond du Lac airport on Dec. 13 at 5:25 p.m. The plane during its descent “encountered icing conditions and the anti-icing and de-icing systems were activated. When the de-icing and anti-icing systems were turned off, residual ice remained on portions of the aircraft.”

The de-icing equipment available to West Wind Aviation in the terminal “consisted of two ladders, a hand-held spray bottle with electric blanket and wand, and a container of de-icing fluid,” according to the TSB.

At 6:11 p.m., after boarding new passengers and cargo, the plane with 25 people on board took off. At 6:12 p.m., the plane went down after colliding with trees and terrain approximately one kilometre west of the end of runway 28. Everyone on board escaped the wreckage, but nine occupants suffered serious injuries, according to the report. Arson Fern Jr. died in a Saskatoon hospital on Christmas Day. He suffered two broken legs, a broken pelvis, a collapsed lung and internal bleeding when the West Wind Aviation ATR-42 crashed.

Six of the passengers are listed as plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against West Wind Aviation and Athabasca Basin Development, the airline’s majority shareholder. The suit is seeking punitive and exemplary damages, as well as general and special damages and costs.

The wreckage path through trees and across terrain was at least 800 feet long, according to the TSB.

“The TSB offers its condolences to the family who lost a loved one and we understand that this accident has been traumatic to those involved. The TSB investigation team is mindful of the survivors and the community of Fond du Lac, who want answers rapidly,” TSB said in its report.

“A significant amount of work has been completed so far, but much remains to be done. ”

The captain and first officer were certified and qualified in accordance with existing regulations, according to the report.

The TSB noted that the weight of the plane was below the maximum structural takeoff weight and the centre of gravity was within limits. Engines were operating up to the point of impact. The plane was equipped with a flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, which were recovered “in good condition” from the wreckage.

“TSB specialists have extracted data from the recorders and continue to analyze it,” according to the report.

The temperature at Stony Rapids, about 80 kilometres east of Fond du Lac, was -10C at the time of the crash. There was a presence of “patchy, moderate rime icing in cloud from 3,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level” at the time of the crash. Stony Rapids is approximately 800 feet above sea level.

The investigator in charge is David Ross, an operations investigator in the central region for nearly two decades. Ross has spent time as a weather observer, in the Canadian Forces and as a regional airline pilot. He currently holds an airline transport pilot license and has accumulated 7,800 hours of flight time.

“Investigations are complex and we take the time needed to complete a thorough investigation. However, should the investigation team uncover safety deficiencies that present an immediate risk, the (TSB) will communicate them without delay,” the TSB said.</s>The West Wind Aviation plane that crashed near Fond-du-Lac was not de-iced and had ice contamination on it when it took off, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

The board said it’s still working to determine the factors that contributed to the crash but released an update on its investigation Monday.

All 25 people on the West Wind Aviation turboprop were injured when it went down shortly after taking off from the Fond-du-Lac airstrip on Dec. 13. A 19-year-old man died in hospital after the crash. Arson Fern Jr. had cerebral palsy and suffered broken legs, a broken pelvis, internal bleeding and a collapsed lung.

“The TSB offers its condolences to the family who lost a loved one and we understand that this accident has been traumatic to those involved,” the board said in its update. “The TSB investigation team is mindful of the survivors and the community of Fond-du-Lac, who want answers rapidly.”

The TSB said Monday although the plane wasn’t de-iced, West Wind had some de-icing equipment in the terminal including two ladders, a hand-held spray bottle with electric blanket, a wand, and de-icing fluid. The board said some of the investigators’ next steps are to examine why the plane wasn’t de-iced before takeoff and the adequacy of ground de-icing equipment.

Investigators have also said the aircraft was not overweight when it took off and that the centre of gravity was within limits. Investigators are now analyzing the plane’s weight, balance and the weather and runway conditions on the day of the crash.

The TSB also found the pilots were qualified for the flight and is analyzing data from cockpit voice recorder.

“We continue our work to determine how accidents like this one can be prevented in the future,” the update stated.

West Wind Aviation’s operator certificate was suspended by Transport Canada about a week after the crash. A class-action lawsuit was filed against the airline and its majority shareholder in January.

The TSB previously ruled out engine failure as the cause. Investigators are continuing to work to determine a cause.</s>Cody Canada, a poster child of the Red Dirt scene as the front man of Cross Canadian Ragweed, is returning to the fray with his band the Departed and their first LP of new material in three years, 3. With the news comes the album's first song, a winding country rocker called "Lipstick."

The new song sounds like vintage Canada, recalling the early 2000s when Ragweed was at the height of its powers. Built around an acoustic groove that slowly unfurls into an extended guitar solo, "Lipstick" is a rumination on romance and betrayal told through the lens of a prostitute and punctured with wailing harmonica breaks. "'Telling lies before the lipstick dries' started this song," Canada tells Rolling Stone Country, referring to one of the song's lyrics. "The idea of her being a lady of the night came later."

New Album 3, which will be released on June 29th, takes its name in part from the Departed's lineup, which has been trimmed to a trio since the release of their last album with Canada at the helm, 2015's HippieLovePunk. (Bassist Jeremy Plato was out front for an album of covers the following year.) The album reunites Canada with his old Ragweed producer, Mike McClure, who mans the controls for his first Departed project on 3.

Canada and McClure play a song swap together at Larry Joe Taylor's Texas Music Festival in Stephenville, Texas, on April 26th. The Departed's next appearance takes place May 4th at Green Country Jam in Tulsa, Oklahoma.</s>The plane which crashed near Fond-du-Lac and killed one person wasn't de-iced at the airport prior to the ill-fated flight, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB).

The TSB released an update Monday on its investigation into the crash.

The plane's weight was within limits, the report says. A class-action lawsuit filed in January alleged the plane's weight may have been an issue.

One passenger, Arson Fern Jr., died two weeks later in hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The plane was bound for Stony Rapids.

The plane, which was operated by West Wind Aviation, arrived at the Fond-du-Lac airport at 5:25 p.m. CST on Dec. 13.

While the plane was landing, it had experience ice conditions and de-icing procedures were activated. When the anti-ice and de-icing systems were turned off, ice remained on the plane, the TSB report says.

De-icing equipment — two ladders, a hand-held spray bottle with electric blanket and wand, and a container of de-icing fluid — was available in Fond-du-Lac but the equipment was not used.

As the plane was taking off, it began to rapidly descend and crashed through trees. The path of destruction cut through the trees and landscape stretched at least 800 feet, the report says.

Engine failure was ruled out as a factor in the crash.

Twenty-two passengers and three crew members were on board when it took off.

The company's Air Operator Certificate was later suspended after Transport Canada identified deficiencies in the company's Operational Control System, which ensures that the company's everyday actions comply with safety requirements for things like dispatching personnel and aircraft.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports the aircraft departed with ice on it before losing height shortly after takeoff. The December 17 crash killed one and injured fifteen.