What happened
On the afternoon of July 7, 2015, a privately operated Beechcraft A36 Bonanza, registered C-GPDK, departed from Oliver Airport, British Columbia. The aircraft was being operated by a single pilot en route to Boundary Bay Airport. Roughly six minutes into the flight, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power.
In response to the engine failure, the pilot performed a forced landing on Highway 97. During the descent and impact, the aircraft struck a power pole and a truck before coming to a stop at the roadside. A fire broke out following the collision, consuming the majority of the airframe. The pilot managed to exit the aircraft but suffered serious burns as a result of the accident.
The incident took place near Osoyoos Airport at an elevation of 1,035 feet during daylight hours. No signal was received from the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter during the event.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the engine failure and the subsequent impact on the highway. Investigators examined the mechanical state of the engine and the environmental conditions at the time of the flight.