What happened
On a day with favorable weather conditions, a Consolidated Aeronautics, Inc. LA-4-200 Buccaneer, registered C-GHJE, departed Delta Heritage Airpark in British Columbia for a local visual flight rules flight. The flight proceeded normally until the aircraft performed a touch-and-go landing on the Fraser River near Crescent Island. Following this maneuver, the aircraft appeared to be descending for a subsequent landing when it struck the water in a nose-down, wings-level attitude with a high vertical descent rate.
The impact caused the aircraft to sink rapidly. While debris was seen floating shortly after the event, the wreckage was recovered in several sections two days later. The pilot's body was recovered approximately three months after the accident, downstream from the site.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft and the physical state of the pilot. Investigators examined the recovered wreckage, which included the instrument panel, the engine pylon with the engine and propeller intact, and the empennette. While corrosion was noted throughout the airframe, no mechanical failures capable of causing a loss of control were identified. The investigation found that the landing gear was retracted and the wing flaps were in the up position at the time of impact, suggesting the aircraft was configured for cruise flight rather than landing.
Analysis of the flight instruments indicated that at the moment of impact, the engine tachometer showed 2300 rpm and the vertical speed indicator was at its maximum downward reading of 2000 feet per minute. Examination of the pilot's seat belt revealed it had failed due to extreme forces, which likely led to the pilot being ejected from the cockpit.
Findings
- The pilot became incapacitated while operating the aircraft, leading to a loss of control and the subsequent collision with the water.
- A post-mortem examination attributed the death to cardiovascular disease, specifically a spontaneous cardiac dysrhythmia.
- The aircraft was not configured for an intentional landing at the time of the crash, as the flaps were retracted and the engine power was not reduced for touchdown.
- While medical examinations aim to ensure aircrew safety, current screening policies may not detect all risks for sudden cardiac events.