What happened
On the morning of 26 October 2017, a Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II, registered C-GCCM, departed from Runway 17 at Calgary/Springbank Airport (CYBW) in Alberta. The aircraft, operated by Springbank Air Training College, was carrying a flight instructor and a student pilot for the purpose of a multi-engine training session directed toward the local practice area.
Shortly after departure, approximately 70 seconds into the flight and roughly 0.8 nautical miles south of the runway, the aircraft experienced a sudden roll to the left. This maneuver transitioned into a steep, descending left turn that resulted in a collision with the ground. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. The two occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the flight. It was noted that the 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT) failed to activate following the impact. Witnesses, including motorists traveling on the adjacent Trans-Canada Highway, observed the accident and reached the site within one minute of the occurrence.