Engines were working when plane went down: TSB

Investigators going over the wreckage of a twin-engine plane that went down in Northern Saskatchewan still can’t say what caused the crash, but they are saying more about what didn’t.

The plane, en route to Stony Rapids, crashed just outside of Fond du Lac at around 6 p.m. on Dec. 13. Twenty-two passengers and three crew members were on board at the time.

Several people were seriously hurt in the crash. Arson Jr. Fern, 19, suffered broken legs, a broken pelvis, internal bleeding and a collapsed lung. He died in hospital about two weeks later.

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) confirmed Wednesday the engines were working at the point of impact, and the plane also had an adequate amount fuel.

Eric Vermette, with the Transportation Safety Board, said investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, but stressed they are still in the data collecting phase of their investigation.

Once the data is collected, they will be able to analyze it and start coming up with some answers.

“The team has started collecting and reviewing a large technical, operational and maintenance documents,” Vermette said. “They will examine aircraft maintenance records, pilot training, qualifications and proficiency records.”

They will also look at whether there have been previous issues with this type of aircraft.

Investigators have also talked to members of the crew, passengers and other witnesses; information which has not been made public.