FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Emergency water landing on Mistassini Lake involving aircraft from Matagami (C-GLUC)

Mistassini Lake, CanadaFlight

On July 25, 1975, a Douglas DC-3 (registration C-GLUC) operated by Saint-Félicien Air Service was involved in an aviation accident near Mistassini Lake, Canada in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of navigational and communication equipment led to pilot disorientation and an emergency fuel situation. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

A flight traveling from Matagami to Quebec was forced to ditch in Mistassini Lake following a loss of navigation and communication capabilities.

What happened

While performing a flight from Matagami toward Quebec, the aircraft experienced a critical failure of both its radio and navigation equipment. This technical malfunction caused the pilot to lose situational awareness regarding the plane's position. As the flight progressed, the crew realized that the remaining fuel was reaching critically low levels.

In an effort to prevent a more uncontrolled crash, the crew decided to perform an emergency ditching in Mistassini Lake. The impact resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair. Despite the severity of the landing, all 24 occupants were successfully pulled from the wreckage and rescued without loss of life.

Findings

  • The primary driver of the emergency was the simultaneous failure of navigation and radio systems.
  • Low fuel reserves necessitated the immediate decision to land on the water.

Probable cause

The loss of navigational and communication equipment led to pilot disorientation and an emergency fuel situation.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 25 Jul 1975 Douglas DC-3 accident near Mistassini Lake, Canada?

A flight traveling from Matagami to Quebec was forced to ditch in Mistassini Lake following a loss of navigation and communication capabilities.

Were there any fatalities in the 25 Jul 1975 Douglas DC-3 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 25 Jul 1975 involved a Douglas DC-3, registration C-GLUC, operated by Saint-Félicien Air Service, at Mistassini Lake, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The loss of navigational and communication equipment led to pilot disorientation and an emergency fuel situation.

More accident analyses