Low-level impact with water surface during instrument training exercise (6057)

What happened

The incident occurred during an advanced training mission involving a practice instrument flying exercise. The aircraft departed from RCAF Camp Borden and proceeded toward Stoney Lake. While operating over the water, the pilot descended to an altitude that was too low for safe maneuvering. This resulted in the airplane impacting the water surface and crashing. Both individuals on board were able to escape the wreckage and sustained no injuries.

Findings

The official investigation identified specific operational errors as the primary factors leading to the accident. The pilot made a judgment error by approaching the water surface too closely before attempting to level off the aircraft. Additionally, the crew was conducting low-level flying over Stoney Lake without proper authorization for such maneuvers.