What happened
On the morning of the accident, a ski-equipped C-FEBF departed Watabeag Lake, Ontario, at 07:45 EST, bound for Mallorytown, Ontario. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) flight accompanied by a dog. While weather conditions were initially suitable for VFR operations at the start of the trip, visibility deteriorated as the flight progressed along the Ottawa River.
As the aircraft reached the area of Holden Lake in Quebec, the landscape was covered in snow and shrouded in fog. Witnesses on the shoreline later discovered the wreckage on the frozen lake. The impact resulted in one fatality, the pilot, while the dog survived with serious injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the flight history to determine the cause of the impact. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was properly maintained, certified, and within weight and balance limits. There was no evidence of mechanical failure or airframe malfunction occurring before or during the flight.
Technical analysis of the wreckage showed the aircraft was in a 30-degree left-roll attitude at the time of impact. This positioning, combined with the deviation from the intended flight path, suggests the pilot was likely attempting a turn, possibly to seek better weather. The investigation also noted that the pilot lacked instrument flight rules (IFR) training and the aircraft was not equipped for IFR operations. Additionally, it was noted that the use of a seat-belt might have mitigated the severity of the pilot's injuries.
Findings
- Meteorological conditions transitioned from favorable to conditions conducive to whiteout during the flight.
- Visibility dropped to approximately one-half mile, with fog and snow-covered terrain making it impossible to maintain visual ground reference.
- The pilot lost the ability to accurately judge the aircraft's altitude above the surface.
- The aircraft descended while in a turn until it struck the frozen surface of the lake.