What happened
On the early morning of 06 January 2009, a Piper Cherokee PA-28-140, registration C-FRZH, crashed into the southwest slope of the Massif du Sud Mountain in Quebec. The flight, which began at Arnprior Airport, Ontario, was operating under night visual flight rules (VFR) with the pilot and three passengers on board, destined for Saint John Airport, New and Brunswick.
After a refueling stop at Québec/Jean Lesage International Airport, the aircraft departed at 0446 EST. During the flight, the pilot reported encountering snow showers. Shortly after reporting the weather, radio contact with the Québec terminal control unit was lost. Radar tracking showed the aircraft's ground speed fluctuating significantly before it disappeared from screens at approximately 0509. The wreckage was located later that morning; the impact destroyed the aircraft, resulting in 2 fatalities and 2 serious injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of structural failure, engine power loss, or flight control malfunctions. The investigation focused on the pilot's navigation, the aircraft's instruments, and the environmental conditions.
Key elements examined included:
- The functionality of the gyroscopic heading indicator, which appeared to be precessing beyond acceptable tolerances.
- The accuracy of the altimeter, which was affected by low external temperatures.
- The pilot's use of navigation aids, including the VOR receiver and VFR charts.
- The impact of weather briefings and the presence of snow showers on the flight path.
- The presence of any substances in the pilot's system.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the fatal accident:
- The pilot performed a night VFR flight despite a significant risk of encountering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- The aircraft entered snow showers and lost visual contact with the ground during the flight.
- An uncorrected altimeter error caused by low temperatures meant the aircraft was flying approximately 500 feet lower than the pilot believed, reducing the margin above terrain.
- The pilot likely failed to use the VFR navigation charts and the VOR receiver effectively, leading to a loss of situational awareness regarding position and terrain elevation.
- The aircraft was overloaded, as the weight of the rear passengers exceeded the manufacturer's limits.
- The pilot's use of cocaine, as confirmed by toxicology, may have contributed to the accident by affecting decision-making or masking fatigue.
- The flight was conducted under high-risk conditions, including night operations, winter weather, and the potential for fatigue due to the flight schedule.