2016 Magdalen Islands Mitsubishi MU-2 crash

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.

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]

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

As the investigation is concluded, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) relaesed their final report on January 10, 2018, 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]

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 at the St. Viateur Church, Outremont and was attended by the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife.^[13]

References