What happened
A single-engine aircraft departed from Lourdes-de-Blanc-Sablon Airport at 15:30 local time, beginning a flight path intended to visit Sainte-Augustine and Saint-Paul River before returning to its origin. During the final segment of the journey, the aircraft picked up seven passengers at the Saint-Paul River Airstrip.
As the flight progressed, meteorological conditions worsened significantly, characterized by the development of clouds and fog that descended to altitudes as low as 200 feet. During this period, the aircraft experienced a loss of control and impacted the ground in an unpopulated region situated near Bradore Bay.
Following the failure of the aircraft to arrive at its destination, search and rescue operations were initiated. Three days after the disappearance, recovery teams located three deceased individuals along with scattered debris. Despite continued efforts, the primary wreckage and the remaining occupants could not be located, leading to the suspension of all search operations one week later.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in conditions of low visibility due to fog and heavy cloud cover.
- The crash resulted in three fatalities.