The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has released a progress report (Jan 5/12) on their investigation into the crash of a First Air Boeing 737-200 C-GNWN at Resolute Bay, Nunavut on August 20, 2011. CBC News story here.

The plane  crashed on approach to the Resolute Bay airport. The report indicates that so far, the TSB thinks the crash was controlled flight into terrain.  They say the crew were just initiating a go-around when the impact occured.

Fifiteen people were aboard, including a crew of 4.   Twelve died in the crash, including all crew members. Three passengers were medevaced to hospital in Iqaluit Nunavut, from which they were sent on for further treatment to Ottawa, with non-life threatening injuries.

A number of the those who died in the crash were employees of Aziz Kerhaj, owner of the South Camp Inn in Resolute.  Aziz and his wife also lost a granddaughter in crash.   Aziz is well-known to northern travellers.  Our deepest sympathies go out to him and his family and staff in Resolute, and to the families of all of the crash victims, including the First Air crew.

Crash survivor Michelle Willamson told her story of what happened that day to CBC's The National. Video and transcript here.

Pilots and airlines in Yellowknife, where the flight originated, held a memorial fly-by a few days after the accident. The video is here. You'll see Buffalo Airways DC-3, DC-4, C-46; a Dehavilland Buffalo, Twin Otters, DASH 7 and 8, Beech 18,  Dornier 228, and others.  The fly-by finishes with a Canadian North B737.

The original CBC News story from August 20th is here.

Some photos, IFR approach plate and other information regarding conditions (METAR CYRB) at the time are available in the Aviation Herald article here.

More information was posted at cbc.ca/north on August 22/11. And again on August 23/11

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the crash. Details here.

There is also an extensive pilots discussion thread available at AvCanada, including IFR approach chart information.