What happened
On the morning of 13 July 2022, a Zlin Aviation Savage ultralight aircraft departed from a location roughly 7 NM southeast of the Olds-Didsbury, AB airport (CEA3). The flight was intended to be a local sightseeing mission. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and one passenger.
Approximately 45 minutes after the departure, at about 1015 MDT, the aircraft struck the ground 0.7 NM south of its takeoff point. Following the disappearance of the aircraft, search operations were initiated by 1530. An aerial search located the wreckage at approximately 1645. Upon the arrival of emergency responders at 1700, it was confirmed that both occupants were deceased.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the impact and the search efforts. It was noted that the aircraft was not outfitted with an emergency locator transmitter, though such equipment was not a regulatory requirement for this type of flight. The investigation focused on the flight path and the timing of the terrain collision.