What happened
On 3-August-2019, a Nanchang CJ6A (registration C-FTGZ) departed from a private grass airstrip situated 7 nautical miles south of Smith, Alberta. The flight was part of a scheduled two-aircraft airshow held at the Smith Hondo Fall Fair grounds.
The airshow operations were conducted under a special flight operations certificate (SFOC) issued by Transport Canada. Following the conclusion of the aerial displays at 12:07, the aircraft exited the designated airshow box and initiated a right turn toward the east. Shortly after, at approximately 12:08, the aircraft was seen performing a rolling manoeuvre before striking the ground in a wooded area located about 1 nautical mile east of Smith. The pilot, who was the only person on board, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the parameters of the airshow and confirmed that the event was conducted according to the requirements and limitations set forth in the SFOC. The investigation focused on the flight path and the sequence of manoeuvres leading up to the impact near the accident site.