Poor pilot judgement and bad weather conditions are to blame for a private plane crash that killed six people west of Calgary in July 2023, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said Wednesday.
On July 28, 2023, a private plane left the Springbank Airport, headed to Salmon Arm, B.C. Officials said at the time those on board were headed to a church function.
Officials say about 15 minutes into the flight, the plane hit a mountain near Kananaskis Village and caught on fire, killing the pilot and all five passengers on board.
A search began when the plane was reported overdue late in the evening of July 28.
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The TSB says an emergency locator transmitter signal was heard by an overflying aircraft near Bow Valley Provincial Park in Kananaskis.
Search and rescue found the plane on the east slope of Mount McGillivray on the morning of July 29.
Weather analysis completed during the investigation showed the clouds near the crash site were likely low, reducing visibility.
“The pilot’s decision to make the flight was influenced by an incomplete understanding of the weather, familiarity with the route, time pressure, and a personal desire to complete the flight,” the TSB said. “When the pilot encountered clouds and reduced visibility, for unknown reasons, he decided to continue the flight toward the destination, and, subsequently, the aircraft collided with terrain in the cruise attitude.”
The TSB adds that if pilots don’t practice instrument flying skills regularly (the technique of controlling a plane by relying solely on the instruments in the cockpit rather than visual references outside the plane), there is a risk they won’t be able to keep control of the plane if they encounter bad weather that requires instrument use. Also, if pilots don’t complete mountain flying training, there is a risk they won’t be properly prepared when flying over mountainous terrain.