Accident Overview
On a morning at 0525 eastern daylight time, a Piper Navajo PA-31, registration C-GUVK (serial number 31-7405451), departed from Dorval Airport, Quebec, on a three-day charter flight with two pilots on board. Two passengers later boarded at Rouyn, Quebec, for travel to La Grande Rivière, Quebec. All flight segments over the three-day period were planned in accordance with instrument flight rules.
Approach and Missed Approach
At La Grande Rivière, the crew conducted a VOR/DME approach to runway 31 but could not land due to weather. They executed a missed approach and proceeded toward the alternate airport, La Grande 4.
Engine Malfunction and Emergency
Approximately 15 nautical miles north of La Grande 3, the engines misfired. The fuel selector lever was reselected, and the engines operated normally for about five minutes before stopping again. The pilot-in-command declared an emergency and headed toward La Grande 3 Airport for an LOC/DME approach to runway 29.
Forced Landing
The aircraft broke through the cloud layer at about 300 feet above ground level. The pilot set the aircraft down in a treed area beside a small lake, four nautical miles southeast of La Grande 3 Airport. The accident occurred at 0957.
Occupants and Rescue
One of the two passengers sustained minor leg injuries. The other occupants were uninjured. They were rescued by helicopter approximately 45 minutes later. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Probable Cause
The crew did not refuel at Rouyn as planned, and did not have sufficient fuel to complete the segment. Contributing to the accident were the following: the crew did not fully understand the flight plan documents and did not calculate fuel consumption en route.