What happened
At approximately 16:02 Pacific daylight time, a privately owned Piper PA-34-200 Seneca, registered C-GHFD, departed from Vancouver International Airport for Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. The flight, conducted under visual flight rules with a single occupant, was intended to verify recent maintenance work. Following takeoff from Runway 08 Right, the aircraft performed a full-length takeoff roll before initiating a right turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft's flight profile transitioned from a climb to a steady, shallow descent.
As the aircraft turned, its airspeed increased significantly, reaching approximately 174 mph, well above the recommended climb speed. The aircraft was flying at a low altitude, descending to roughly 200 feet above ground level shortly before the impact. The aircraft then collided with a 15-storey residential building in Richmond, located about 1.5 nautical miles east-southeast of the departure end of the runway. The pilot sustained one fatality, while two residents in the impacted suite suffered two injuries (one serious and one minor). While structural damage to the building was minimal, the fire suppression system caused extensive water damage, displacing hundreds of residents.
The investigation
Investigators examined three potential scenarios: an intentional act, an equipment malfunction, and pilot incapacitation. There was no evidence to suggest the pilot intentionally crashed the aircraft, as his prior preparations and concerns regarding aircraft systems were inconsistent with such an act.
Regarding mechanical failure, investigators looked into potential autopilot or electric pitch trim malfunctions. Although the anti-servo trim tab was found in a moderate nose-down position and the rudder trim was at full right deflection, no anomalies were identified in the systems that could have been unrecoverable by a proficient pilot. The investigation noted that the aircraft was accelerating in a descent, suggesting it had not yet reached the speed required for the specific trim setting.
Findings
- The most plausible cause of the accident was that the pilot suffered an acute medical event resulting in incapacitation and a loss of control.
- The aircraft entered a descent and accelerated due to an inappropriate pitch trim setting that was not corrected.
- The pilot possessed pre-existing health risk factors that may have contributed to a sudden medical emergency.
- The investigation also highlighted risks associated with the non-disclosure of medical conditions to aviation medical examiners and noted that current medical guidance (TP13312) lacks sufficient detail regarding age-related neurological and cognitive risks.