The Transportation Safety Board says three people have died in a light plane crash at a remote Northwest Territories lake known for its spectacular scenery.
The Transportation Safety Board says three people have died in a light plane crash at a remote Northwest Territories lake known for its spectacular scenery.
TSB spokesman Chris Krepski says a Cessna 206 plane operated by Simpson Air went down about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at Little Doctor Lake near the North Nahanni River.
Damien Healy, a media spokesman for the N. W. T. Health Department, says the male pilot and a female passenger were flown to the Fort Simpson Health Centre, but were not hurt.
«Both survivors were assessed free of injuries by the physician and community health nurse,» Healy said Friday.
They received counselling before being released, he said.
Safety board investigators from Edmonton were being sent to the crash site and were expected to arrive Saturday.
«We’ll start to learn more with some time, as well as (by) being on the accident site to gather information and examine the aircraft, interview witnesses and gather information about the weather and any communications between air traffic control and the aircraft,» Krepski said.
Simpson Air declined to comment.
Shane Thompson, the area’s member of the legislature, said he had been in touch with staff from the company.
«They’re pretty devastated,» he told Cabin Radio in Yellowknife.
«I’m trying to be as supportive as I can with the people there. It has a huge impact on their lives.»
Little Doctor Lake, about 100 kilometres west of Fort Simpson, is accessible only by float plane in the summer and draws visitors from around the world looking for a wilderness experience.
Simpson Air’s website says it is a charter air service that offers adventure trips into the Mackenzie Mountains and the Nahanni National Park Reserve.
It also provides mail, cargo and grocery delivery, as well as medical, government and personal transportation to communities in the region.
