What happened
On July 3, 2019, a Zenair STOL CH750 amateur-built aircraft, registered C-GCUU, departed from Sussex Airport (CCY3) in New Brunswick. The aircraft was operated by a solo pilot, and because no flight plan or notification of departure was provided, the intended destination and exact takeoff time remained undetermined.
Later that evening, around 1820 Atlantic Daylight Time, the airport owner discovered the aircraft in a field located less than 400 feet from the runway centerline. The aircraft had impacted the ground in a near-vertical orientation. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
The investigation
Investigators examined the pilot's recent flight history and the aircraft's maintenance status. The pilot had owned the C-GCUU since September 2017, but had not operated the aircraft in flight since that time, limiting use to ground taxiing exercises.
Regarding the pilot's experience, records showed the individual held a student pilot permit and a valid Category 3 medical certificate. While the pilot had a total of 22.8 flight hours, all of this time was logged under the supervision of an instructor. Most of this training occurred in 2017, and the pilot had not flown since January 2019, with the exception of two hours in a Cessna 172 during June 2019.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were assessed as favorable for visual flight rules, with light winds originating from the south-southwest.