In-flight breakup and collision with terrain Buffalo Airways Ltd. Rockwell International 690C, C-FNRP Fort Simpson Airport (CYFS), Northwest Territories, 28 NM W

In-flight breakup and collision with terrain
Buffalo Airways Ltd.
Rockwell International 690C, C-FNRP
Fort Simpson Airport (CYFS), Northwest Territories, 28 NM W

The occurrence

On 24 June 2026, the Rockwell International 690C aircraft (serial number 11627) operated by Buffalo Airways Ltd. was conducting a bird dog flight from Fort Simpson Airport, Northwest Territories, with one pilot and two crew members on board.

While providing tactical support for a forest fire 28 nautical miles west of Fort Simpson Airport, the aircraft experienced an in-flight breakup and collided with terrain.

The aircraft was destroyed, and all three occupants were fatally injured. The TSB deployed a team to the site and is investigating.

Investigation update - July 2026

The following update contains facts that the TSB has been able to validate at this time. It contains no conclusions about the factors that contributed to the occurrence. The final investigation report will include an analysis of all relevant factors and provide the Board's findings.

What we know

• The aircraft was providing tactical support for a water bomber at a fire west of the community of Fort Simpson.

• The left wing, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer were not found at the accident site.

• An aerial search for the missing aircraft components was not successful.

• The accident site is located in muskeg with ponds, small lakes, and rivers nearby.

• There was an active forest fire in the immediate vicinity of the accident site.

• At the time of the accident, the aircraft airframe had 5386.2 hours since new and 7348 airframe cycles.

Progress to date

• The initial data collection at the accident site, including photographs, occurred on 26 June 2026.

• An aerial search for the missing components occurred on 27 June 2026.

• The investigation team had to evacuate the community early in the morning of 28 June 2026.

• Information from Buffalo Airways Ltd. was obtained on 29 June 2026.

• The flight path data recorded by satellite tracking (ADS-B) was obtained and showed:

• The aircraft had been flying for 2 hours and 30 minutes.

• After approaching the fire from the southwest, the aircraft completed two full orbits of the fire and the in-flight breakup occurred at the start of the third orbit.

• During the orbiting of the fire, the aircraft was operating at ground speeds between 141 and 199 knots and at heights from approximately 50 to 1000 feet above ground level (AGL).

• The average ground speed during the orbits was 165 knots.

• The technical and maintenance files for the aircraft have been received, and a review of those records is in progress.

Next steps

• The salvage plan is being developed for when the area is deemed safe to enter. At the time of publishing this update, the Fort Simpson community was still under evacuation notice.

• Once the aircraft has been recovered and the left wing, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer have been recovered, an analysis can begin on what led to the in-flight breakup.

TSB is deploying a team following an aircraft accident near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories