What happened
On a local sightseeing flight departing from Vermilion Aerodrome (CYVG) in Alberta, a Morrisey 215 to 50A (Varga) aircraft, registered C-GFHZ, crashed during its return to the airport. The flight, which included the pilot and one passenger, began at approximately 1145 Mountain Daylight Time.
During the approach for Runway 10, the pilot initially attempted a landing but subsequently performed a go-around. While transitioning from the base leg to the final approach, the aircraft experienced a stall. This caused the left wing to drop, leading the aircraft into a left-hand spin. The aircraft completed one and a half rotations before striking the ground approximately 0.9 nautical miles northwest of the aerodrome. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire, and both occupants were fatally injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The Morrisey 2150A (Varga) was found to be in good mechanical condition, with no defects identified in the flight control system or the engine's ability to produce power. Technical records confirmed that annual inspections were up to date, and calculations suggested the aircraft was likely within its center of gravity and weight limits.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident involved light rain and visibility of approximately 10 to 12 statute miles. Winds were recorded at 12 to 15 knots, with gusts reaching up to 26 knots.
Due to the intensity of the post-impact fire, the aircraft's journey log was destroyed, preventing investigators from determining the pilot's total flight experience or time spent on this specific airframe. Additionally, no flight-path data could be retrieved from GPS, radar, or ADS-B sources.