What happened
On 13 January 2000, a DHC-2 Mk. 1 skiplane, registration C-FIVA, departed from Lake Kaiagamac, Quebec, for a series of pleasure flights. The aircraft, operated by Cargair Ltd., was carrying the pilot and five passengers. After performing initial flights at Lake Adonis, the aircraft departed the frozen lake at approximately 0-945 EST, flying at an altitude of less than 200 feet.
As the aircraft proceeded toward rising terrain, it struck trees in a wooded area roughly five kilometers from its departure point. The impact, which occurred less than ten minutes after takeoff, destroyed the aircraft. The pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries, while the remaining three passengers suffered serious injuries and hypothermia. The aircraft's engine was functioning normally at the time of the crash, and no mechanical failures were identified.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the flight's operational history. The investigation established that the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within permissible limits, though the company's weight and balance calculation form was found to be irregular. This specific form, which prevented pilots from accurately determining the center of gravity, had been flagged by Transport Canada as early as 1992, yet remained in use at the time of the accident.
Search and rescue efforts were hampered by several factors. The white aircraft blended into the snowy landscape, and although the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) functioned, a broken antenna significantly reduced its signal range. Furthermore, the pre-flight briefing provided to passengers was insufficient; while seat belts were explained, passengers were not informed of the location of survival equipment, such as sleeping bags, which could have mitigated the effects of hypotherment.
Findings
- The aircraft stalled with insufficient altitude for the pilot to perform a recovery.
- The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude and likely utilize cutback power for the climb prevented safe obstacle clearance.
- Environmental conditions were conducive to optical illusions often encountered during low-altitude flight over rising terrain.
- The aircraft lacked a stall warning system, a feature not required by the regulations in place at the time.
- The lack of information regarding survival equipment location prevented passengers from protecting themselves from extreme cold.