What happened
On 24 July 2022, a privately owned Cessna 172P was performing a visual flight rules flight from Victoria International Airport to Qualicum Beach Airport in British Columbia. The aircraft was occupied solely by the pilot.
As the aircraft approached the Qualicum Beach Airport from the southeast, the engine began to lose power, characterized by sputtering and a deceleration to roughly 1200 RPM. In response to the power loss, the pilot attempted an emergency landing. During this maneuver, the aircraft's wheels briefly touched the runway surface past the midpoint of the strip before the aircraft lifted off the ground again.
Following this contact, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure. During the subsequent flight, the aircraft entered a steep right turn, which transitioned into a rapid descent with a nose-down attitude. The aircraft ultimately impacted the terrain. The 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter was triggered, and emergency responders arrived at the site shortly after the crash.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the event. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading from the initial engine deceleration to the final impact with the ground.