Canada safety board: fuel miscalculation caused Eagle Air's 2023 emergency landing
The gist
Canada's TSB found an Eagle Air Piper ran out of fuel and landed on a Manitoba road in 2023.
The report cites wrong wind data and a faulty gauge, pointing to planning gaps.
How it unfolded
- Nov 2, 2023An Eagle Air Piper PA-31-350 with six passengers and a pilot ran out of fuel on a flight from Sachigo Lake First Nation to Winnipeg. The pilot diverted, the left engine failed, and he declared an emergency; the plane landed safely on Pigeon Bluff Road in St. Andrews, Man., at 4:50 p.m. CDT with no injuries or damage.
- Nov 4, 2026The Transportation Safety Board of Canada's investigation report found incorrect wind data was used in pre-flight planning to calculate fuel, and that the pilot climbed higher than planned, burning more fuel than expected.
- Nov 4, 2026The report said the aircraft had no fuel totalizer or similar tool, so there was no visual indication the pilot had burned more fuel than planned; it also noted two 20-litre jerry cans loaded before the first leg were removed when the operations manager/chief pilot said they were not necessary.
Key terms
- TSB
- Canadian agency that investigates transportation accidents and issues safety recommendations in aviation, rail, marine and pipelines.
- First Nation
- Governing bodies of two Indigenous peoples in Canada, distinct from Inuit.
- CDT
- A time zone in parts of Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America and some Caribbean islands, one hour behind Eastern Time.
Source: Wikipedia