What happened
On the morning of the incident, two separate non-scheduled flights were operating in the vicinity of Kenora, Ontario. The first aircraft, a Norseman IV with registration CF-Bally-BZM, departed from Malachi at 10:05 LT carrying a pilot and three passengers. While performing a standard left-hand circuit near Keewatin at an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet, the aircraft began its descent. As the plane reached an altitude of roughly 20 feet above the water, the pilot observed a flash on the right wingtip followed by a loud impact. The aircraft subsequently lost control, experienced a series of rolls, and crashed into the lake in a nose-down attitude.
Simultaneously, a second Norseman VI, registered CF-IRH, was conducting a flight from Bell Lake with a pilot and seven passengers. This aircraft was on its final approach to landing, approximately 1.5 miles from its destination. As the plane descended toward the water, the pilot observed a wingtip from another aircraft through the left window just before an impact occurred. The collision caused the aircraft to strike the water, bounce, and eventually capsize.
While there were no fatalities among the occupants of either flight, one passenger aboard CF-IRH sustained serious injuries. The impact resulted in the total destruction of CF-BZM and substantial damage to CF-IRH.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the collision occurred because both pilots failed to maintain an adequate lookout during the approach and landing phases. The two aircraft were traveling on converging paths, leading to the mid-air impact at a height of only 20 feet above the lake surface.