Floatplanes Destroyed By Gunfire

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Two moored floatplanes, a Cessna 185 and a De Havilland Beaver, were shot multiple times overnight on October 4 on Assean Lake in northern Manitoba.
  • The aircraft, owned privately and by the Tataskwayak Cree Nation, sustained extensive bullet hole damage to their fuselages and glass.
  • The damage is estimated at approximately $850,000, and both planes are expected to be declared total losses.
  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating the incident and have issued a public appeal for information.
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Authorities in northern Manitoba say two moored floatplanes were riddled with bullet holes and have likely been written off earlier this month. The privately owned Cessna 185 and a De Havilland Beaver owned by the Tataskwayak Cree Nation were shot overnight Oct. 4 on Assean Lake on the Tataskwayak Nation lands. “Sometime overnight both planes were shot at with a firearm and had multiple bullet holes,” a Royal Canadian Mounted Police statement said. “Due to the damage, both planes will most likely be declared total losses and the value is estimated to be approximately $850,000.00.”

Photos accompanying the press release show bullet holes in the glass and throughout the fuselage of both aircraft including the cowlings. The damage wasn’t reported until the following afternoon so the shots were either not heard or went unreported. The police have issued a public appeal for information.

Russ Niles

Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.
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