What happened
On the evening of 10 October 2009, a Piper PA-28R-180, registration C-FURX, departed Kingston, Ontario, for a scheduled night visual flight rules (VFR) trip to Sudbury. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and three passengers. While the flight was intended to arrive around 2042, an emergency locator transmitter signal was detected by another aircraft at 2052, prompting a search operation.
Following the notification of the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, search crews located the wreckage the next morning near the western edge of Algonquin Park. The aircraft had struck the tops of tall hardwood trees in a hilly region. The impact caused substantial break-up of the aircraft, and all four occupants were fatally injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the pilot's experience, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the meteorological conditions. The aircraft was found to be in a well-maintained condition, with no pre-impact mechanical failures identified; the engine was still producing power at the time of the crash. The aircraft was equipped with a GPS unit, though data could not be retrieved due to damage.
Regarding the pilot, while the necessary training for a night rating had been completed, the rating had not yet been officially issued by Transport Canada. The pilot's experience was limited, as this was intended to be their first night-time cross-country flight as pilot-in-command.
Weather analysis revealed a cold front was moving through the region, bringing rain, snow, and shifting winds. The investigation also looked into the pilot's navigation and communication, noting that the aircraft's altitude likely prevented radio contact with ground stations during much of the flight.
Findings
- The pilot, possessing limited night flying experience, departed at night without a full understanding of the marginal weather conditions forecast along the route.
- The flight plan involved navigating over rugged terrain with very few visual landmarks, and the pilot continued into worsening weather.
- The pilot likely lost ground reference due to deteriorating visibility and failed to maintain sufficient altitude, leading to the collision with trees.
- The failure to update altimeter settings when transitioning from high to low pressure likely resulted in a loss of obstacle clearance.
- The aircraft's flight altitude prevented the pilot from communicating with ground stations, which prevented the receipt of updated weather or altimeter information.