What happened
During the early stages of flight following departure from Montreal-Saint-Hubert Airport, a twin engine aircraft encountered severe weather conditions consisting of rain and mist. As the plane began its initial climb, the crew became unaware that the aircraft had not reached an adequate altitude because visibility was significantly reduced by the precipitation.
While navigating through these low-visibility conditions, the aircraft struck the tops of trees. The impact led to a crash on the slope of Mt Saint-Bruno, situated approximately 8 km northeast of the departure airfield. The accident resulted in six fatalities and one injury among the occupants on board.
Findings
- The primary factor contributing to the accident was the crew's lack of situational awareness regarding their actual altitude.
- Low visibility caused by mist and rain prevented the flight crew from accurately perceiving their height above the terrain during the climb phase.