What happened
On the afternoon of 24 September 2021, a Piper PA-18S-150 floatplane was performing a takeoff from the river at Rivière du Lièvre, located in Ferme-Neuve, Quebec. The aircraft, which was privately registered, was operated for a private flight from Rivière du Lièvre to Parent, Quebec, carrying one pilot and one passenger.
During the takeoff sequence, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. This loss of control led to the plane striking the water and subsequently capsizing. The impact with the river caused the aircraft to overturn, resulting in two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the loss of control and the subsequent capsizing of the aircraft. Investigators examined the aircraft's condition and the sequence of events leading to the collision with the water. During the post-accident analysis, it was noted that the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) failed to activate following the accident.