1 fatality

Fatal aircraft accident during firefighting mission (C-GHQY)

McBride, CanadaFlight

On August 15, 1986, a Grumman S-2 Tracker (registration C-GHQY) operated by Conair Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near McBride, Canada in flight. One person was killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered C-GHQY
Aircraft registered C-GHQY. Photo: Masakatsu Ukon / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A single-pilot aircraft crashed under unidentified circumstances while engaged in an aerial firefighting operation.

What happened

During the execution of a firefighting mission, an aircraft crashed while performing its duties. The incident occurred while the aircraft was actively involved in aerial fire suppression efforts. At the time of the accident, the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft.

Following the impact, it was confirmed that there were 1 fatality resulting from the crash. The specific details regarding the flight phase and the exact sequence leading to the impact remain unverified due to the unknown circumstances surrounding the event.

Findings

The precise reasons for the accident have not yet been determined. Investigators have noted that the aircraft was operating in a high-intensity environment related to firefighting operations, but the specific mechanical or environmental factors that led to the crash are currently unknown.