What happened
On 11 August 2021, an Air Tractor AT-802, registered as C-GJJX, was engaged in forest firefighting operations near Miramichi Airport (CYCH), New Brunswick. The aircraft, operated by Forest Protection Limited under the callsign Tanker 624, was performing its fourth bombing run of the day when it struck a heavily wooded hillside. The incident occurred at approximately 1553 Atlantic Daylight Time. While the impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft, there was no post-impact fire, and the single crew member on board survived with minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the terrain impact during the aerial firefighting mission. Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration and the environmental conditions present at the time of the accident. The inquiry looked into how the flight path interacted with the steep terrain of the northern New Brunswick region during the active bombing run.