What happened
On an afternoon flight from Abbotsford, British Columbia, to Springbank Airport, Alberta, a Cessna 182P aircraft, registration C-GASB, failed to reach its destination. Following the activation of an emergency locator transmitter, a search and rescue mission located the wreckage near Needle Peak, approximately 17 nautical miles northeast of Hope, British Columbia. The impact occurred on a steep, heavily wooded slope at an elevation of 4,048 feet. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and the four persons on board sustained fatal injuries.
Prior to departure, the pilot had been advised by a flight service specialist that weather conditions appeared suitable for visual flight rules (VFR) operations, though a weather update was suggested for the vicinity of Hope. The aircraft departed Abbotsford at 14:05 PDT and was tracked by radar flying at 5,000 feet. However, radar contact was lost near Hope due to the surrounding mountainous terrain.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance, the pilot's credentials, and the environmental conditions at the time of the crash. The Cessna 182P was found to be properly maintained, and no mechanical defects or engine anomalies were identified that could have caused a loss of performance. The engine was determined to have been operating at the time of impact.
Weather data from local observation stations and surveillance video from the Coquielle highway toll booth indicated that conditions were significantly worse than the initial forecast. While the forecast suggested a higher cloud ceiling, actual conditions likely involved a much lower ceiling and a freezing level near the surface. The pilot, who held a commercial license and an instrument rating, was flying under VFR and was not in contact with air traffic control.
Findings
- The pilot encountered adverse weather while navigating mountainous terrain.
- While attempting to reverse course amidst rising terrain and lowering clouds, the pilot likely lost visual reference to the horizon.
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft while attempting to maneuver without sufficient visual cues.
- The aircraft was likely in a spiral dive at the moment it struck the treetops.
- The proximity of the high terrain left the pilot with insufficient time to recover the aircraft from its descent.
- The aircraft had departed Seattle, Washington, at a weight exceeding the maximum allowable takeoff weight.