A Mitsubishi MU-2 similar to the crashed aircraft
| |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 March 2016 (2016-03-29) |
| Summary | Crashed following unstabilized approach |
| Site | Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, Canada 47°24′09″N 61°49′00″W / 47.4026°N 61.8167°W / 47.4026; -61.8167 |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 |
| Operator | Aero Teknic |
| Registration | N246W |
| Flight origin | Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport, St-Hubert, Quebec |
| Destination | Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, Magdalen Islands, Quebec |
| Occupants | 7 |
| Passengers | 5 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On 29 March 2016, a Mitsubishi MU-2 operated by Aero Teknic, a Canadian aircraft maintenance company, crashed on approach to Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, killing former Canadian politician Jean Lapierre, several members of his family, and the two pilots. Lapierre was flying to his father's funeral with his wife and three siblings.[1] While one man survived the crash, he died of a heart attack after being pulled from the wreckage.[2][3][4]
Before departure, Jean Lapierre mentioned that he was concerned about flying during bad weather.[5] The aircraft left Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil AirportinSaint-Hubert, Quebec at 0931 Eastern Daylight Time and was headed to Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, on Havre-aux-Maisons island in the Magdalen Islands, also in Quebec. A little over two hours later (1230 Atlantic Daylight Time), the aircraft collided with terrain in Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, about 1.4 nmi (2.6 km) short of the threshold of runway 07.[6][7]
At the time of the accident, there was light rain and mist. The visibility was 2 mi (3.2 km) with a cloud ceiling of 200 ft (61 m). The air temperature was 0 °C with east-northeast winds at 18 knots (33 km/h) per hour, gusting to 24 knots (44 km/h).[7]
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) opened an investigation and sent a group of investigators to the site.[8]
According to the preliminary observations found by the investigators indicated that the aircraft was in a slightly left-wing-low-and-nose-high attitude on impact. The wreckage was contained in a field 150 metres square about two kilometres southwest of Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport; the aircraft had hit the ground and slid for 91 metres before coming to a stop. Examination of the wreckage showed the engines were running until the impact with the ground. The MU-2 was not fitted with flight recorders (which are not required for light aircraft), but a different type of onboard recording device was installed and it appeared to be intact.[7] The wreckage was removed from the crash site and transported to the TSB's laboratory in Ottawa on April 6. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board sent a representative to the American-built plane's crash site. Mitsubishi also sent investigators to the site.[7]
On 10 January 2018, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released their final report in which they stated that the accident was caused by the pilot's incapacity to maintain the aircraft which lead to an unstabilized approach. The unstabilized approach was caused by the fact that the pilot allowed events to control his actions which led the aircraft to prevail over the pilot's authority which was also aggravated by cognitive bias which led him to continue it [the approach].[9]
After the pilot is adding more power to the airplane at lower altitude with low airspeed, they lost control which caused an upset that resulted in a sharp right roll and the rapid descent, it is also probable that the pilot was not prepared for this type of upsets but despite this him is able to level the wings, an action which, however, was done too late when the plane was now too low and therefore eventually hit the ground.[9]
The high workload and the reduced time available to the pilot also contributed to the accident, which are the result of a Task saturation condition which decreased his situational awareness and hindered the decision-making process, it is probable that the flight skills and procedures have not been sufficiently practiced by the pilot to ensure that he has adequate proficiency in his capabilities as pilot-in-command for single-pilot operations on the aircraft type especially in a situation similar to that experienced in this accident.[9]
The victims include the two pilots, Captain Pascal Gosselin and co-pilot Fabrice Labourel. Jean Lapierre, his wife, his two brothers and one of his two sisters were also killed.
Jean Lapierre was a former Canadian Federal Member of Parliament and former Minister of TransportinPrime Minister Paul Martin's cabinet. He was Paul Martin's Quebec lieutenant during Martin's time as Prime Minister, and a member of the Liberal party. Lapierre eventually became a well-known Quebec broadcaster and talk-show host.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former Prime Minister Paul Martin, and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre all expressed their sadness at Lapierre's death.[10][11][12] The funeral of Lapierre and his wife was held on April 16 at the St. Viateur Church, Outremont and was attended by the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife.[13]
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Aviation accidents and incidents in 2016 (2016)
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|---|---|
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Jan 14 U.S. Marine Corps helicopter collision Feb 2 Feb 24 Feb 26 Air Kasthamandap PAC 750XL crash Mar 9 Mar 15 Mar 19 Mar 29 Mar 29 Apr 4 Apr 13 Apr 29 CHC Helikopter Service Flight 241 May 18 May 19 May 27 Jun 26 Colombia army helicopter crash Jul 1 Russian MChS Ilyushin Il-76 crash Jul 6 Bell 525 Relentless prototype crash Jul 22 Jul 30 Lockhart hot air balloon crash Aug 3 Aug 5 ASL Airlines Hungary Flight 7332 Aug 27 Southwest Airlines Flight 3472 Oct 21 Oct 24 Oct 28 Oct 28 Oct 31 Nov 28 Dec 3 Indonesian Police PZL M28 crash Dec 7 Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661 Dec 18 Dec 20 Dec 23 Dec 25 Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 | |
