Adverse weather conditions and engine power failure contributed to the crash of a light aircraft in Montreal and the death of one of its passengers in October 2021 on board (TSB) of Canada.
Posted at 12:17 p.m
This emerges from the report published by the federal authority on this sad event on Wednesday.
On October 3, 2021, a small plane towed a banner reading “Chantal Will You Marry Me?” ‘, had fallen in Dieppe Park, just a few hundred yards from the crowd gathered for the Osheaga Festival in Montreal. No one on the ground was injured, but the accident claimed the life of one passenger and injured the pilot.
A loss of engine power that occurred as the plane flew over the Saint Lawrence River near the Concorde Bridge was the cause of the tragedy, the TSB said on Wednesday.
“Adverse” weather conditions
The weather conditions that day were “devaforable”, meaning “meeting the minimum requirements for a [vol à vue] difficult,” noted investigator-designate Isabelle Langevin in her report.
The latter later emphasized that “the pressure to carry out the flight on schedule […] and the nature of the flight (a marriage proposal) may have influenced the decision to carry out and continue the planned flight even in unfavorable weather conditions”.
Under these conditions, ice would have formed on the aircraft’s carburetor, reducing its engine’s ability to produce enough power to maintain its altitude.
When flying at low altitudes over downtown Montreal, “possible locations for a safe landing for the pilot are significantly limited,” the report said.
While attempting an emergency landing on Pierre-Dupuy Avenue in Dieppe Park, the plane’s left wing broke through the treetops. It then began to wheel and hit the ground, causing the plane to catch fire and passenger Dominique Raby to die.
requirements not met
The TSB report also points out that the accident victim did not meet the “requirements for flight essentials”. However, Dominique Raby, a 54-year-old father, had his pilot’s license after starting classes a few years ago.
However, the flight fell into the category of “aerial work assignments” because of the towing of the wedding banner. “Although persons other than flight crew members may in certain cases be on board during aerial work, their presence on board during flight must be essential because of the risks associated with this type of work,” notes the TSB.
In addition, the company that owns the aircraft, AEROGRAM, did not have the special permit required for passenger transport.