Mike Roberts of Divetech Ltd., a Nova Scotia Canada based underwater survey and recovery company, received a call last week to help locate a missing Lake Buccaneer amphibious aircraft and it's two occupants.
Debris was spotted by a relative of the passengers in another plane in the Lac Berth Reservoir – approximately 200 kilometers north of Baie-Comeau, Quebec near the Manic-5 Hydro Dam. The remains of the aircraft were located at a depth of 70 meters (230 feet) where Divetech's VideoRay Pro 3 GTO Remotely Operated Vehicle delivered and attached a recovery line around the tail of the plane. The plane was then winched to a shallower depth from a salvage barge, then divers from the Quebec Police Diving Team took over and recovered the pilot from inside the wreckage. The passenger was also recovered.
Roberts and the rest of Divetech are pleased they could help. "It's always a great feeling to help bring closure to the families, and another to know we can rely on our technology to perform in important situations like these" said Roberts.
News coverage of the accident