Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, a Cessna A185F (serial number 18503977) departed Boyce Lake, Ontario, on a visual flight rules flight to Temagami, approximately 15 nautical miles away. At about 0915 eastern daylight time, a witness near a transmission tower south of Temagami heard an aircraft approaching. The aircraft came into view and almost immediately struck the anchor wires of the tower and then the tower itself. The aircraft descended to the ground, where an explosion occurred and an intense post-crash fire broke out. None of the three occupants survived.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held a valid commercial pilot licence with appropriate endorsements for the flight. He had accumulated approximately 550 hours of total flying time, with about 220 hours on the accident aircraft type. No indication of incapacitation or physiological factors affecting performance was found. The aircraft was equipped with floats.
Weather Conditions
Weather reports were available to the pilot prior to departure. A weather package was faxed to the operator from Nav Canada's Sault Ste. Marie flight service station. The area forecast valid at the time called for broken clouds at 3000 feet asl, visibility of 6 sm, with local ceilings of 400 to 1000 feet agl in precipitation and visibility of 1 to 3 sm in mist. Terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF) for North Bay (42 miles south) and Sudbury (47 miles southwest) indicated temporary reductions in visibility due to light rain showers and mist, with low overcast ceilings.
Actual METARs from North Bay and Sudbury around the accident time reported visibility as low as 1 sm in light rain and mist, with overcast ceilings at 200–400 feet agl. At the occurrence site, weather was reported as variably foggy with occasional drizzle. Approximately 1400 feet from the tower, its lights were visible but not clearly due to drizzle and fog. The aircraft was heard approaching but not sighted until an instant before impact.
Tower and Navigation
The transmission tower was located on a hill at about 1300 feet asl, stood approximately 250 feet high, and was painted alternately white and orange with lights at the midpoint and top. The lighting and markings were appropriate per regulations, and the tower appeared on the Sault Ste. Marie VFR navigation chart and the pilot's map. The pilot was reportedly aware of the tower. Tower obstruction lights were on at the time; bulbs were tested and found serviceable, and the lighting system functioned when power was restored. The tower's transmission signal ceased at 0916.
Investigation Findings
No airframe failure or system malfunction was discovered; the engine was operating at impact. The pilot was certified and qualified. The investigation concluded that the pilot continued flight in deteriorating meteorological conditions and likely did not see the tower and anchor cables in time to avoid the collision.