What happened
During the evening of the accident, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered C-GUZZ, departed Kamsack, Saskatchewan, on an instrument flight rules flight bound for Saskatoon. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and three passengers. Shortly after departing runway 34, the aircraft began a roll to the left. While the plane initially gained altitude, it soon entered a steep left bank and struck terrain approximately 200 feet from the runway.
The impact caused the aircraft to break up and immediately ignited a fuel-fed fire. Two passengers managed to escape the burning wreckage with serious injuries, but the pilot and the third passenger sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by the force of the collision and the subsequent intense fire.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's history, and the environmental factors at the time of the crash. The aircraft had been maintained according to approved procedures, and the pilot was a highly experienced and meticulous flyer with approximately 1,000 total flight hours. Weather conditions at the time of takeoff were favorable, with sufficient visibility and a well-defined horizon, making pilot disorientation due to illusions unlikely.
The investigation focused on several potential causes for the uncontrolled roll, including propeller torque, P-factor, and potential mechanical failures. While the aircraft was within weight and balance limits, investigators looked into the condition of the flight control cables. They discovered that the left forward aileron drive cable, which was made of stainless steel, showed signs of progressive fatigue and fractures at multiple points. Specifically, one fracture occurred in a straight section of the cable where no typical bending stresses were present, suggesting the cable wires may have been splayed or displaced.
Findings
- The pilot was unable to maintain control of the aircraft following takeoff for reasons that could not be definitively determined.
- The aircraft experienced a roll to the left that led to the collision with the ground.
- The left forward aileron drive cable exhibited pre-existing fatigue and fractures.
- It is possible that restricted movement of the aileron cable prevented the pilot from effectively countering the roll.
- The use of three-point seat belts and harnesses likely enabled the two survivors to evacuate the wreckage before the fire became unsurmountable.