What happened
The incident occurred during a routine navigation training exercise involving a twin-engine aircraft. The crew was flying straight ahead along the Saint-Laurent River at an altitude of approximately 75 feet. As the airplane passed the bow of a vessel, it struck the water surface roughly 100 yards astern of the ship.
Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced significantly and traveled forward for several hundred yards before striking the water a second time. It rose briefly before plunging nose-first into the river. The wreckage was located approximately 1,500 metres off Lancaster. One crew member was rescued from the water, while three other occupants were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the crash resulted from unauthorized low flying by the staff pilot.