(Gatineau, Quebec, February 3, 2005) - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today issued its final report (A03H0002) into the September 11, 2003 crash of a Cessna 208B Caravan near the northern Ontario community of Summer Beaver that killed the seven passengers and pilot on board. The post-crash fire nearly consumed the aircraft, leaving little behind for the TSB to analyze. The cause of the accident remains undetermined; however, the following safety actions have been taken by the operator as a result of this investigation: implementation of a policy of crewing all passenger flights with two pilots, even though not required by regulation; revision of the tracking of the emergency locator transmitter maintenance requirements; completion of modifications to the automatic tracking system being installed on its aircraft prior to this accident; and provision of additional training to the maintenance personnel regarding the handling of gyro instruments. Wasaya Airways Flight 125 departed Pickle Lake for Summer Beaver, Ontario, on the evening of September 11, 2003. When the aircraft did not land, personnel at Summer Beaver contacted the Pickle Lake flight dispatch to inquire about the flight. The aircraft was declared missing following an unsuccessful radio search by the Pickle Lake flight dispatch staff. Search and rescue personnel found the wreckage in a wooded area three nautical miles northwest of Summer Beaver at 1:52 a.m. on September 12, 2003. The families of the victims and the native community of Summer Beaver were briefed by the Transportation Safety Board's Investigator-in-Charge for this accident, Réal Levasseur, prior to the release of the report. The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. -30- The report is available on the TSB Web site at www.tsb.gc.ca For more information, contact: John Cottreau Senior Media Relations Advisor Transportation Safety Board of Canada (819) 994-8053
