What happened
A Piper PA-28-235, registration C-FYRJ, was flying under visual flight rules (VFR) from Roblin, Manitoba, to Gimli, Manitoba, on the night of the accident. The flight, which began in daylight, transitioned into night as the aircraft moved through uncontrolled airspace. During the flight, the pilot had made several stops, including Kindersole and Yorkton, Saskatchewan, for weather briefings and refueling.
While the pilot had previously diverted to Roblin due to weather, the final leg of the journey commenced at 2025. By 2130, the aircraft was observed flying eastward near Lake Manitoba Narrows under overcast skies and drizzle. At 2140, the aircraft struck the ground in an open field with a slight nose-up attitude and a left bank. The impact caused the aircraft to strike a hay bale, which severed the left wing, and a post-impact fire destroyed the fuselage. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's experience, and the environmental factors present at the time of the crash. Investigators found that the engine was producing substantial power at impact and that all control surfaces were functional, with no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure.
Regarding the pilot's background, records indicated approximately 140 total flight hours, including 23 hours of night flight. While the pilot had received basic instrument training, the aircraft was not certified for instrument flight. The investigation also examined the flight itinerary process, noting that while a responsible person had been designated in Gimli, they had not been briefed on the necessity of initiating search and rescue procedures if the flight became overdue.
Findings
- The pilot continued a series of night VFR flights into an area with limited surface lighting and known adverse weather.
- The pilot's instrument flying skills were likely inadequate to safely execute a course reversal turn, leading to an undetected descent into the ground.
- The pilot failed to ensure the designated responsible person understood the requirements for notifying search and rescue services.