What happened
The crew departed Summerside to conduct a routine navigation exercise. Upon completing the planned maneuvers, the aircraft failed to return to base as expected. Witnesses reported that the airplane began climbing from a low altitude when the port wing detached from the fuselage. The loss of structural integrity caused the aircraft to crash into the sea approximately 800 metres offshore. All four crew members were killed in the incident.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the evidence did not disclose the specific cause of the structural failure. There were no signs of engine trouble identified during the inquiry. The review noted that the pilot and two other crew members exhibited reckless behavior, but this was not cited as the direct mechanical cause of the wing separation.