What happened
On a recent afternoon in Quebec, a Kitfox Model IV advanced ultralight aircraft, registered as C-GMFA, was performing a takeoff from Casey (Camp de base) Aerodrome (CSQ4). The flight was being conducted under visual flight rules, with the pilot and one passenger on board, intending to reach a private runway in Sainte-Eulargie.
Shortly after the aircraft cleared the end of the runway during its initial climb, it began a turn toward the north. This maneuver intensified, with the aircraft entering an increasingly steep and tight bank. The descent transitioned into a severe nose-down attitude, leading the aircraft to strike the ground. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire. Although bystanders attempted to combat the flames using portable extinguishers, the two fatalities were confirmed at the scene. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the accident.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the sequence of the flight path and examined available evidence, including video footage of the takeoff captured by a passenger aboard a nearby helicopter. The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the transition from takeoff to the steep descent.