The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 26 April 2022.
Loss of control and collision with terrain
Privately registered
Piper J3C-65 (floatplane), CF-SVT
La Tuque Aerodrome, Quebec, 25 NM ENE
The occurrence
On , a Piper J3C-65 equipped with floats was on a flight from the Batiscan River near the Seigneurie du Triton, 25 nautical miles east-northeast of the municipality of La Tuque, Quebec, to the Saint-Étienne-des-Grès / Hydravion Aventure hydrobase, Quebec. Shortly after the southbound takeoff, the aircraft entered a left turn at low altitude and collided with trees about 100 feet from the east bank of the river. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: Loss of control and collision with terrain in La Tuque, Quebec, in September 2021
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys team of investigators to the Mauricie region of Quebec following aircraft collision with trees
Dorval, Quebec, 13 September 2021 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the Mauricie region of Quebec following a collision with trees involving a float-equipped Piper J3C-65 aircraft. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A21Q0083
Loss of control and collision with terrain
Privately registered
Piper J3C-65 (floatplane), CF-SVT
La Tuque Aerodrome, Quebec, 25 NM ENE
Investigator-in-charge
Pierre Gavillet joined the Air Investigations Directorate at the TSB regional office in Dorval, Quebec, as an investigator/operations specialist in October 2007. He has more than 30 years' experience in aerial operations as well as air taxi and commuter operations, and as a pilot with Canadian and foreign airlines. He has flown more than 50 models of aircraft, ranging from small training planes to large jet transport aircraft such as DC8s, B757s, A300s, A310s and A330s, in most regions of the world.
Since joining the TSB, Mr. Gavillet has been involved in many investigations in Quebec and Ontario.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.