What happened
While operating a flight from Gaspé toward Mont-Joli, the flight crew encountered heavy fog that significantly reduced visibility. In response to these weather conditions, the decision was made to divert the aircraft to Rimouski Airport, situated approximately 25 km southwest of their original destination.
Shortly after initiating the diversion, the aircraft descended to an insufficient altitude and struck trees in a wooded area located roughly 5 km southeast of Rimouski. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and led to four fatalities.
Findings
- The crew encountered poor visibility caused by fog during the approach.
- The aircraft was flying at an altitude that was too low relative to the terrain before colliding with trees.