What happened
On the night of 11 January 1994, a PA-31-310 Navajo, registered C-GDOU, departed St. Anthony, Newfoundland, for a scheduled night flight to Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon, Quebec. The flight was being conducted under visual flight rules (VFR). During the trip, the crew provided several routine updates to the flight service station, including their position and estimated time of arrival. At approximately 1854 NST, the co-pilot indicated the crew would use runway 05 and would contact the station again on final approach. No further radio contact was ever established.
Two days after the disappearance, search teams located various pieces of the aircraft drifting on ice. While sonar scans of the area were unsuccessful, a scallop trawler eventually recovered the aircraft's tail section and several interior cabin components in early August 1994. The two occupants of the aircraft have not been located and are presumed dead.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path, the condition of the aircraft, and the circumstances of the impact. The PA-3 and10 Navajo was found to be well-maintained and compliant with all regulations, though its autopilot was inoperative. Investigators analyzed wreckage fragments, which showed that the cabin had broken up and the fuselage had fractured near the rear door. The damage patterns, including the deformation of the skin under the tail, were consistent with a high-speed impact with a surface.
Witnesses near the coast reported seeing aircraft lights at unusually low altitudes. One observer noted the light appeared to be flying parallel to the water, while others described the light as appearing to fall from the sky. The investigation also noted that the crew's use of GPS was consistent with standard procedures, but the aircraft lacked a ground proximity warning system.
Findings
- The crew was qualified and the aircraft was in a serviceable condition.
- The flight was conducted under favorable weather conditions, but the lack of moonlight and the dark, snow-covered landscape made judging height difficult.
- The crew's last transmissions showed no signs of distress or anxiety.
- The pilots likely failed to properly monitor the altimeter, leading to a controlled descent into the ice.
- The familiarity with the route and the routine nature of the flight may have reduced the crew's vigilance regarding altitude.