What happened
On 30 July 2018, a Quad City Challenger II advanced ultralight aircraft, registered C-IGKT, was performing a flight from North Bay to Rockcliffe, Ontario. While cruising at an altitude of approximately 1,800 feet above sea level, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic structural failure when the right wing detached from the fuselage. Following the separation, the aircraft descended into a wooded area near a cottage on Talon Lake, Ontario. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the mid-air separation of the wing. Investigators examined the wreckage and the structural integrity of the aircraft's components. The inquiry established that the aircraft was being operated privately at the time of the accident.