What happened
On a non-scheduled flight from Great Whale River to Val d'Or, an Avro Canada CF-100 (registration CF-CRL) departed at approximately 09:15 EST. The aircraft was operated by the Photographic Survey Corporation Limited and carried a crew consisting of the pilot and a maintenance engineer, along with two passengers. Before takeoff, an instrument flight plan was filed for a direct route to Val d'Or at an altitude of 7,000 feet.
During the initial climb, the pilot followed a magnetic heading of 185°. After receiving instructions to continue climbing to 9,000 feet and receiving weather updates regarding the freezing level, the pilot reported at 09:28 that he had reached 10,000 feet and intended to maintain that altitude. Shortly after, at 09:30, the pilot indicated an intention to fly at 11,000 feet, staying on top of the overcast layer.
The final communication from the aircraft occurred at 09:57 during a radio check, where the pilot acknowledged that his signal was weak. Following this transmission, no further contact was established. When the aircraft failed to arrive as scheduled, the RCAF Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Trenton, Ontario, was alerted at 16:00 that the flight was overdue, prompting a search operation.
On July 25, wreckage was located approximately 36 miles from Rupert House, Quebec. The impact resulted in four fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
While an official cause was not definitively established, investigators noted that the pilot initiated takeoff during weather conditions that were below acceptable limits. Furthermore, the flight took place in a region with limited navigational aids, and the Avro Canada CF-100 lacked necessary de-icing equipment.