What happened
On December 14, a single-engine aircraft departed Seven Islands Airport, Quebec, at 08:20 local time, traveling toward Goose Bay. The flight originated from Nashua Airport, New Hampshire, on December 13, with an intended stop in Goose Bay, but the crew had diverted to Seven Islands due to unfavorable weather conditions at the primary destination.
During the approach to the airport, the aircraft crossed the FAFKO waypoint at 2,800 feet above sea level, maintaining a ground speed of 104 knots. While the descent followed a standard 3-degree profile, the aircraft's ground speed began to drop steadily. After receiving updated wind information from the tower and receiving clearance to land on Runway 08, the pilot acknowledged the instructions. However, the ground speed continued to diminish, dropping to 51 knots shortly before the accident.
At approximately 10:02, the aircraft lost controlled flight and struck the terrain roughly 2.5 nautical miles southwest of the airport, positioned along the extended centerline of Runway 08. The impact destroyed the aircraft.
Findings
An emergency locator transmitter signal was detected by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax at 10:06. A search and rescue helicopter from Goose Bay reached the site minutes later, where medical teams located the two occupants. Both individuals sustained serious injuries, and the pilot subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The investigation noted that the aircraft experienced a continuous and significant decrease in ground speed during the final descent.