What happened
On a flight scheduled from Baie-Comeau, Quebec, to Rimouski, an Air Satellite flight departed after a five-hour delay caused by poor weather. The Britten-Norman aircraft, registration serial number 2028, took off at 11:09 EST. At the time of departure, meteorological conditions included moderate snow showers, a ceiling of 800 feet, and visibility limited to 0.5 statute miles.
During the initial climb, while at an altitude of roughly 500 feet above sea level, the aircraft entered a cloud layer. As the flaps were retracted, the plane experienced a sudden pitch-up and became unstable. In an attempt to stabilize the flight, the pilot pushed the control column forward. Realizing the flight could not proceed safely, the pilot initiated a left turn to return to the departure airport. During this maneuver, the aircraft rolled sharply to the left and entered a dive, striking the St. Lawrence River less than 1 nautical mile from the airport and about 0.5 nautical mile from the shoreline.
Findings
The accident resulted in six fatalities and several injuries. Among the passengers, four died at the scene, while two others passed away during the 98-minute wait for rescue services. The co-pilot's body was lost to the river's current and remains unrecovered. The pilot and two passengers survived with serious injuries.