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Bob Heath, an Inuvik pilot working for Kenn Borek Air Ltd., was flying a Twin Otter similar to this one when it went missing on Jan. 23 in Antarctica. - NNSL file photo

ANTARCTICA
The wreckage of the Twin Otter aircraft missing in Antarctica since Jan. 23 has been found. The three Canadians on board aren't expected to have survived the crash.

The pilot of the Twin Otter was Inuvik's Bob Heath, for whom a moment of silence was held prior to a senior men's hockey game in Inuvik on Jan. 26. However, Kenn Borek Air Ltd., the owner of the crashed plane, had not officially released the names of the crew members as of press deadline.

Rescuers spotted the plane on Jan. 25 on a steep slope but were unable to land due to weather.

Visuals suggest the plane made a direct impact that was likely unsurvivable, according to a release from flight operator Kenn Borek Air Ltd.

"No signs of activity are evident in the area surrounding the site," the news release states. "Subject to favourable weather conditions, helicopter crews and mountain rescue personnel will attempt to access the accident site."

The overdue plane was first spotted by a Hercules aircraft of the New York Air National Guard and visuals were confirmed 30 minutes later by a Kenn Borek Twin Otter aircraft.

Search efforts were co-ordinated by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), working with United States and Canadian authorities.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission co-ordinator Tracy Brickles said it was a sad end to the mission, which was flying in support of an Italian Antarctic program.

"It has been a difficult operation in challenging conditions but we remained hopeful of a positive result. Our thoughts are now with the families of the crewmen," Brickles stated in a release.

Merven Gruben of Tuktoyaktuk said he has flown with Heath on Aklak Air flights between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik for the past 20 years or so.

Gruben said he always felt safe with Heath at the controls.

"He was definitely one of the safest and best pilots I've known," Gruben said. "I'm not a very good flier in the small planes. I don't mind so much the jets but when you get into the little planes it makes you think a little bit. I never second-guessed Bob."

Heath was always good for a story and a laugh, Gruben said, adding he was known for his one-liners.

"He made humour of everything and would make you feel comfortable and better about flying," he said.

Heath's plane was travelling from the South Pole to the Italian base in Terra Nova Bay when it went down. Initial attempts to rescue Heath and two other Canadians were hampered by low visibility, heavy snow and blowing winds.

Crews were alerted to the location of the aircraft by its emergency locator, which activated late Jan. 23 sending a signal from the Northern end of the Queen Alexandra Range, approximately 450 km north of the South Pole. The beacon later stopped transmitting, which was not unexpected given the battery life and cold conditions.

No details on the cause of the crash were available as of press time. The next of kin have been notified.

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