What happened
On a flight in Quebec, a privately operated Cessna U206F floatplane, registered C-FWBQ, was traveling from Kuashkuapishiu Lake toward Ra-Ma Lake near the Manicouagan Reservoir. The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules with a pilot and two passengers on board. Around 14:00 Eastern Daylight Time, while positioned at the northern end of the lake, the aircraft initiated a left-hand climbing turn. Shortly after this maneuver, the plane experienced a sudden right bank and a rapid loss of altitude. The aircraft struck the ground and was immediately engulfed in flames, which destroyed nearly the entire cabin. The accident resulted in two fatalities and one serious injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the impact and the subsequent fire. The investigation focused on the flight path during the climbing turn and the mechanical state of the aircraft. It was noted that no signal from an emergency locator transmitter was detected following the crash.