Nordair Québec 2000

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

At approximately 1053 Eastern Daylight Time, de Havilland DHC-2 Mk. 1 amphibious floatplane (registration C-FGYK, serial number 123), operated by Nordair Québec 2000 Inc., took off from runway 31 at La Grande-Rivière Airport, Quebec, for a visual flight rules flight to l’Eau Claire Lake, Quebec, about 190 nautical miles to the north. The take-off run was longer than usual. The aircraft became airborne but was unable to gain altitude. At the runway end, at approximately 50 feet above ground level, the aircraft pitched up and banked left. It then nosed down and crashed in a small shallow lake. The pilot and 1 front-seat passenger were fatally injured and the 3 rear-seat passengers sustained serious injuries. The aircraft broke up on impact, and the forward part of the cockpit was partly submerged. The emergency locator transmitter activated on impact.

De Havilland DHC-3 Otter

The Otter registered C-FKLC was on the frozen Lagopede Lake, ready for takeoff, when another Otter operated by Air Saguenay and registered C-FODT landed on the same lake. Upon touchdown, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that collided with the Otter waiting for departure. While the Otter registered C-FODT was slightly damaged, the Otter registered C-FKLC was damaged beyond repair after its right wing was torn off. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.