What happened
On the morning of the accident, a Cessna U206F floatplane, registration C-FMGP, departed from Tortue Lake, Quebec, as part of a planned flight involving stops at Pasteur Lake and Taureau Reservoir. The aircraft, operated by Aviation Mauricie, was carrying one pilot, one student pilot, and one passenger. After docking at a wharf on the eastern shore of Pasteur Lake, the aircraft took off again at approximately 1125 EDT.
During the initial climb, the aircraft performed a 90-degree left turn, directing its path toward the departure wharf. Witnesses observed the aircraft in an unstable, nose-up attitude at an altitude of roughly 100 feet above the wharf. Shortly thereafter, the right wing dropped, and the aircraft pitched downward, striking trees approximately 300 feet south of the wharf. A fire broke out in the right wing root following the impact, which eventually spread to the cabin. The three fatalities occurred as a result of the crash and subsequent fire.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of engine failure, mechanical deficiencies, or aircraft system malfunctions. The damage to the wreckage was consistent with a loss of control following a stall at an altitude too low to allow for recovery. While the passenger's autopsy revealed coronary heart disease, there was no evidence of a recent medical event that would have caused incapacitation.
Technical analysis focused on the flight path and environmental conditions. The investigation noted that the pilot chose a takeoff route shorter than the standard path used by local aviators, which reduced the available altitude for clearing obstacles. The investigation also considered the possibility that the student pilot was at the controls, though it could not be definitively determined whether the pilot-in-command or the student was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft's flight path toward the wharf placed it into a tailwind, which increased ground speed and reduced the climb angle.
- The chosen trajectory directed the aircraft toward rising terrain that exceeded the aircraft's climbing capabilities.
- The pilot may have been subject to optical illusions caused by aircraft drift and the approach toward rising terrain.
- The combination of a tailwind, a shorter takeoff run, and the maneuver toward the wharf led to a stall at approximately 100 feet above the ground.