Occurrence
On 2 October 2021, at approximately 1745 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172M aircraft (registration C-FFRV, serial number 17262394) operated by Publicité AERO-GRAMME Inc. departed from St-Mathieu-de-Laprairie Aerodrome (CML8), Quebec. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules for an aerial advertising mission in the region of Montréal, Quebec. One pilot and one passenger were on board.
While flying over the St. Lawrence River near the Concorde Bridge, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to execute an emergency landing on Pierre-Dupuy Avenue in the borough of Ville-Marie, Montréal. During the landing attempt, the left wing grazed some treetops. The aircraft then cartwheeled and struck the ground, resulting in a post-impact fire.
The pilot sustained serious injuries but was able to evacuate the aircraft. The passenger could not evacuate and received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The emergency locator transmitter did not emit a signal.
Aircraft and Crew
The Cessna 172M, a single-engine aircraft, was operated by Publicité AERO-GRAMME Inc. at the time of the occurrence. The pilot and passenger were the only occupants.
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada conducted a class 3 investigation, which focuses on a limited number of safety issues and may result in recommendations. The investigation identified unfavourable weather conditions and loss of engine power as contributory factors.