2016 Magdalen Islands Mitsubishi MU-2 crash

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 destined for the Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, on Havre aux Maisons island in the Magdalen Islands, also in Quebec. A little over two hours later (1240 Atlantic Daylight Time), the aircraft collided with terrain in Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, about 2 km from Îles-de-la-Madeleine Airport, the flight's intended destination.[6][7]

At the time of the accident, there was light rain and mist. The visibility was 4 kilometres with a cloud ceiling of 61 metres. The air temperature was 0 °C with east-northeast winds at 37 kilometres per hour, gusting to 56 kilometres per hour. The aircraft had been cleared to land on Îles-de-la-Madeleine's Runway 07 prior to the crash.[7]

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]

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.