A North Star Air Douglas DC-3 in the colours of Cargo North, registration C-FKGL performing flight BF-102 from Pickle Lake,ON to Big Trout Lake,ON (Canada) with 3 people on board, departed Pickle Lake but immediately after takeoff the crew needed to put the aircraft down again onto the ice of Pickle Lake. There were no injuries, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Nav Canada reported the aircraft was taxiing for departure at 17:05Z, immediately after departure the aircraft crash landed on the ice of Pickle Lake at about 17:30Z.
Transport Canada's CADORS database released a correction late Mar 21st 2017 stating the aircraft owner and operator was North Star Air, not Private Air as initially reported. Canada's Aircraft Registry Database still reflects Private Air as owner of the aircraft however.
On Mar 28th 2017 the aircraft departed the ice of Pickle Lake.
On Apr 11th 2017 Canada's TSB reported that the aircraft rotated at 83 KIAS, the crew however did not observe any climb performance, the aircraft did not accelerate and did not achieve a positive rate of climb. The crew therefore performed a forced landing, the aircraft came to a stop on the frozen surface of Pickle Lake about 1300 meters from the departure end of runway 27. The aircraft received damage to engine (PT6A), propellers and cowlings. The drag brace attachment points of both landing gear struts were broken away, the lower longerons and associated structures in the engine nacelles were damaged due to impact with the landing gear axles. The TSB inspected the aircraft, found the tanks were properly filled, the aircraft weight and balance was within permitted limits. Examinations of the engines revealed there was no pre-impact conditions that would have contributed to the occurrence. The propeller governors were tested and found working properly. The TSB was able to determine the propellers were rotating at takeoff setting of 1700 rpm. The engines were replaced on the lake and repairs were made that permitted a ferry flight from Pickle Lake to Thunder Bay,ON for further repairs.
On Aug 31st 2020 The Aviation Herald erroneously attached the final report of the occurrence of Jun 21st 2019, see Report: North Star DC3T at Fort Hope on Jun 21st 2019, both engines lost power after departure and removed that final report from this coverage again.