2016 Magdalen Islands MU-2 crash
A Mitsubishi MU-2 similar to the crashed aircraft
Accident
Date29 March 2016 (2016-03-29)
SummaryCrashed on approach
SiteLes 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 typeMitsubishi MU-2B-60
OperatorAero Teknic
RegistrationN246W
Flight originMontreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport, St-Hubert, Quebec
DestinationÎles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, Magdalen Islands, Quebec
Occupants7
Passengers5
Crew2
Fatalities7
Survivors0

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]

Accident

Before departure, Jean Lapierre mentioned that he was concerned about flying during bad weather.[5] The aircraft left Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport in Saint-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]

Investigation

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) opened an investigation and sent a group of investigators to the site.[8]

Preliminary observations 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 investigation has concluded.[9] 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]

Victims

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 Transport in Prime 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 and was attended by the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife.

References

  1. ↑ Grou, Vincent (30 March 2016). "Îles-de-la-Madeleine: le pilote Pascal Gosselin était un pionnier d'Internet au Québec". Ici Radio-Canada.ca. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Seven dead in Iles de la Madeleine plane crash: SQ". CTV Montreal. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Breaking Îles-de-la-Madeleine leaves 6 dead, 1 man injured". CBC News. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Authier, Philip (29 March 2016). "Seven people dead following plane crash on Îles-de-la-Madeleine, SQ says". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Jean Lapierre worried about bad weather before fatal plane crash: 'It's not nice. But I'm going to see mommy'". Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Jean Lapierre among 7 killed in Îles-de-la-Madeleine plane crash". CBC News. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Aviation Investigation A16A0032". Transportation Safety Board of Canada. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "TSB deploys a team of investigators to the site of an aircraft accident near the Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, Quebec". Transportation Safety Board of Canada. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Air transportation safety investigation A16A0032". 10 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "" C'est tout un choc" Denis Coderre". 29 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "Paul Martin remembers Jean Lapierre". 31 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Justin Trudeau on Twitter". Retrieved 22 September 2016.
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