What happened
A mission to monitor for forest fires ended in tragedy when a single-engine aircraft departed from Wabush. During the patrol flight, the plane became uncontrollable and impacted the surface of Lake O'Keefe. The impact caused the aircraft to sink to a depth of approximately 80 feet.
Search efforts located the wreckage several hours after the incident, positioned roughly 60 km southwest of Wabush. There were four fatalities resulting from the crash. Among those who perished were two government conservation officers serving as forest rangers for the Newfoundland Department of Natural Resources.
Findings
The exact reasons why the aircraft lost control remain undetermined, as the descent into the lake occurred under unknown circumstances.