What happened
On a flight departing from Charlevoix Airport, Quebec, at approximately 19:50 EDT, a Cessna 421C carrying one pilot and five passengers experienced a catastrophic failure during the initial climb. The aircraft, registered as C-GVPB, was performing a visual flight rules charter service bound for Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
During the early stages of the flight, observers noted grey smoke discharging from the left engine. Following this observation, the aircraft began a sharp turn to the left and started to lose altitude. The flight path then deviated significantly before the aircraft experienced a yawing motion and entered an uncontrolled roll. The aircraft subsequently pitched downward and struck the ground, resulting in a post-impact fire. The accident resulted in six fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Witness accounts indicate that smoke from the left engine preceded the loss of control and the subsequent descent and roll of the aircraft.