On March 23, 1995, a Douglas DC-3 (registration C-GCXD) operated by Aviation Boréal was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Bondésir, Canada during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck an ice ridge on the surface of the lake during takeoff, leading to the collapse of the landing gear. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A floatplane sustained significant damage after striking an ice ridge during takeoff from Lake Bondésir.
What happened
During a takeoff attempt from the frozen surface of Lake Bondésir, the aircraft encountered an obstacle on the ground. The left ski made contact with an ice ridge, which triggered a structural failure of the main landing gear. This collapse caused the aircraft to come to a halt on the ice.
There were no injuries reported among the two crew members on board, as both the pilot and the co-pilot were able to exit the aircraft safely. However, the impact resulted in the aircraft being declared a total loss due to damage that was beyond repair.
Findings
The primary factor in the accident was the impact of the left ski with an ice ridge during the takeoff phase.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck an ice ridge on the surface of the lake during takeoff, leading to the collapse of the landing gear.