According to the accident report, the 63-year-old pilot, who left Trois-Rivières on July 17, struck a Hydro-Québec power line spanning the Saint-Maurice River near Shawinigan in the afternoon. The single engine then dropped in reverse position
in the river between Melville Island and the Shawinigan-South sector.
Pilot René Martel, originally from Shawinigan, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The TSB found no evidence that weather conditions, mechanical problems or the pilot’s state of health were decisive for this accident.
Accordingly TSBthe aircraft collided with the lower cable of a high-voltage power line located at an altitude of about 20 meters above the river.
Although the Hydro-Québec cables were not marked to make them more visible, the TSB claims that they were low enough not to be considered obstacles to air navigation.
Markings are not required if the cables are at a height of less than 90 meters, the states TSB.
The federal agency reminds pilots to be careful when inspecting an unfamiliar landing site. Pilots should consider doing multiple overflights at different altitudes to have a better chance of spotting power cables or other hard-to-see obstacles, he says TSB.
More than 5,000 Hydro-Quebec customers were without power for several hours after the accident in Shawinigan-Sud.
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