Accident Details
A float-equipped de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, registration C-FHVT (serial number 284), operated by Sudbury Aviation Limited, was on approach to Kennedy Lake, Ontario, at 1425 Eastern Daylight Time. The aircraft carried the pilot and two passengers. Prior to the flare, the aircraft rolled to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder and right aileron in an attempt to regain control, but the maneuver was unsuccessful. The aircraft struck rising tree-covered terrain above the shoreline, coming to a stop on its right side and on a slope.
Injuries and Response
The pilot and the passenger in the rear seat received minor injuries. The passenger in the right front seat was not injured. All three occupants were able to walk to the company fishing camp on the lake. There was no fire. The 406-megahertz emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was manually activated by one of the passengers. Another aircraft operated by the same company, a Cessna 185, flew to the lake after C-FHVT became overdue. A search and rescue aircraft, responding to the ELT signal, also located the accident site. Radio contact between the Cessna 185 and the search and rescue aircraft confirmed that their assistance would not be required.
Probable Cause
The official investigation identified the probable cause: Prior to touchdown in a northerly direction, the aircraft encountered a gusty westerly crosswind and the associated turbulence. This initiated an un-commanded yaw and left wing drop indicating an aerodynamic stall. The pilot was unsuccessful in recovering full control of the aircraft and it impacted rising terrain on the shore approximately 30 feet above the water surface.