What happened
The incident involved a seaplane operating on a mission from Presque Isle, Maine, to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan. The aircraft was tasked with delivering personnel to a newly established military airfield in the destination town. While preparing for departure from the Saint Lawrence River near Anticosti Island, the pilot faced challenging environmental conditions, including marginal weather and strong winds.
The initial takeoff attempt was aborted due to these adverse conditions. During the subsequent second attempt, the aircraft encountered significant turbulence as waves struck the fuselage. This impact caused the plane to suddenly capsize. Local fishermen responded rapidly to the emergency scene and successfully rescued four members of the crew before the aircraft submerged to a depth of approximately 100 metres.
The wreckage remained underwater until it was located by divers in 2009, where human remains were recovered. The accident resulted in five fatalities among the personnel on board.