What happened
At approximately 1840 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, registration C-GHKH, departed from a private airstrip near Chilliwack, British Columbia. The aircraft, operated by Fraser Valley Skydiving Centre Ltd, was carrying the pilot and four skydivers. During the flight, two skydivers were released at 3000 feet, followed by two more at 9000 feet. Following the jumps, the aircraft failed to return to the airfield, and no signal was received from the emergency locator transmitter.
Six days after the disappearance, the wreckage was discovered by a paraglider pilot on a 45-degree slope within the Skagit mountain range, roughly four nautical miles from the departure airstrip. The aircraft had struck treetops before impacting the slope at a relatively high speed in a wings-level, descending attitude. A post-impact fire destroyed much of the cockpit and the left wing. The pilot sustained one fatality.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's credentials, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot held a commercial licence with approximately 300 total flying hours, including 40 hours on this specific aircraft. An autopsy and toxicology report found no medical conditions or substances that contributed to the accident.
Technical analysis of the wreckage revealed that the engine was producing significant power at the moment of impact, consistent with a controlled descent. Laboratory analysis of the instruments indicated an airspeed of between 165 and 168 mph and a descent rate of approximately 840 to 880 feet per minute. While the aircraft was maintained according to regulations, the ELT failed to activate due to impact damage, which hindered the initial search efforts.
Weather observations from nearby stations indicated that while conditions were generally suitable for visual flight, there was significant cloud cover and haze in the area. Radar data showed the aircraft performing maneuvers before heading northwest toward the crash site.
Findings
- The pilot most likely entered cloud cover unintentionally.
- While attempting to descend to exit the clouds, the pilot flew into high terrain.
- The aircraft's inadvertent entry into cloud led to the fatal collision with the mountainside.