What happened
A small single-engine airplane was performing a low-altitude cruise near Potter Lake during a flight back to its base in Cochrane. The aircraft was transporting one pilot and two passengers following a trip from a hunting camp. During the flight, the passengers were utilizing the low altitude to capture photographs of the landscape. During this phase of flight, the aircraft became uncontrollable and struck trees in a forested region. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane and three fatalities.
Findings
Investigators were unable to establish a definitive cause for the accident, though certain contributing factors were identified. Evidence suggests that the pilot may have attempted a sharp maneuver after spotting a moose. This steep turn likely led to an uncontrolled descent characterized by a nose-down and inverted attitude. It was noted during the investigation that the aircraft lacked a ventral fin. While the installation of such a fin is not a legal necessity, its absence may have reduced the directional stability of the float-equipped plane during the maneuver.