History of the Flight
On the morning of the accident, a Piper PA31-350 (registration C-FTIW, serial number 31-7752123) operated by Aéropro was on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Sept-Îles, Quebec, to Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, took off around 0630 eastern daylight time. The aircraft was scheduled for a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) flight, with the pilot assigned the previous evening.
About a week before the accident, the pilot had planned to overfly a cottage on Grand lac Germain, Quebec, if opportunity arose. Shortly before 0700, the aircraft turned off its route and proceeded to Grand lac Germain. Around 0700, the aircraft overflew the southeast bay of the lake twice. During the second pass, it flew a northeast heading, following the downward slope of the terrain on the south side of the bay, passing about 500 feet east of the cottage. The aircraft arrested its descent at approximately 100 to 300 feet above the lake, with landing gear up and engine noise constant. It then initiated a gentle climb followed by a steep bank, disappearing behind trees. An impact noise was heard seconds later. The aircraft was found broken up on the frozen lake surface.
Radar data showed the aircraft level at 3500 feet ASL at 0637, then disappearing at 0647. The last radio transmission from the pilot was at 0635, reporting five miles north of the airport at 2200 feet climbing to 5500 feet.
Pilot
The pilot held a valid commercial pilot licence (issued June 1994) and a Group 1 instrument rating. He had approximately 5475 total flying hours, including 790 on PA31s and 90 in the 30 days before the accident. He was considered competent and professional by peers and instructors. On the accident day, he awoke at 0430 after a normal day of family activities and a 2230 bedtime the previous night. Flight time calculations showed no exceedance of regulatory limits, and there was no evidence that fatigue was a factor. Toxicology tests for common drugs were negative. The autopsy report indicated the pilot died as a result of the accident.
Aircraft
The Piper PA31-350 is a low-wing, twin-engine aircraft. It was certified, equipped, and maintained per regulations, with its last inspection on 29 March 2007. No deficiencies were reported, and no outstanding maintenance items existed. The aircraft was equipped with an autopilot and radar altimeter but no flight data or cockpit voice recorder. It had been modified under Supplementary Type Certificate SA00192SE to increase maximum take-off weight and improve stall characteristics with vortex generators, lowering stall speed by about 8 knots.
At the estimated accident weight of 5800 pounds, the stall speed with wings level, flaps retracted, and no power was 67 knots. Stall speed increases with bank angle; for example, at 60° bank, stall speed is 95 knots. The stall warning system, activated by a lift transducer vane, triggers a horn 4 to 10 knots before stall. Company pilots did not routinely check the system.
Accident Site
The accident occurred on the frozen surface of the southeast bay of Grand lac Germain, elevation 1780 feet ASL. The aircraft struck the ice 525 feet east of the shoreline and 275 feet west of an island, approximately 2300 feet northeast of the cottage and 1600 feet after disappearing behind trees. The impact created a crater 30 feet in circumference after breaking through a 2-inch top ice layer and bouncing off a second layer.
No weather factors contributed to the accident. Analysis determined the aircraft was heading northeast at 100-300 feet altitude, then initiated a climb and right turn. It stalled and crashed after travelling about 600 feet, in a slight nose-up attitude and banked slightly right. The aircraft was banked right before disappearing behind trees.