Search for missing Piper Chieftain ends with discovery of wreckage four years later

Casualties unknown • 39 nm North of Terrace, British Columbia, CA

A Piper **PA-31-350 Chieftain** was located by chance in the British Columbia mountains nearly four years after it disappeared during a scheduled flight.

What happened

A scheduled visual flight rules (VFR) trip through British Columbia ended in tragedy when a Piper PA-3/350 Chieftain disappeared while traveling from Bronson Creek to Terrace. After successfully completing several legs of the flight including Iskut and Dease Lake, the aircraft departed Bronson Creek at approximately 13:50. Ten minutes later, the pilot made radio contact with another aircraft near the Iskut River valley, reporting no issues. This was the final communication before the aircraft vanished.

Despite an intensive air and ground search, no trace of the aircraft was found, and the search was eventually abandoned. The wreckage was not discovered until August 1994, nearly four years after the disappearance. The aircraft was located approximately 39 miles north of Terrace, situated in a steep, sub-alpine area near the Tseax River valley. The impact, which resulted in 4 fatalities, occurred while the aircraft was in straight and level flight with the engines producing power.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the wreckage pattern, engine performance, and the pilot's recent flight history. Examination of the propeller blades confirmed the engines were producing power at the moment of impact. While the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) failed to signal during the initial search, investigators determined it was likely functional prior to the crash but was destroyed upon impact.

Maintenance records indicated the aircraft was airworthy, properly weighted, and sufficiently fueled for the mission. Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting that while the pilot was highly experienced with 13,000 total flying hours, he had not successfully maintained an instrument rating in the two years preceding the accident.

Findings

  • The aircraft was in controlled, level flight when it struck the trees.
  • The weather conditions in the mountainous region were unsuitable for VFR operations, characterized by low ceilings and deteriorating visibility.
  • The pilot likely attempted to continue visual flight into areas of instrument meteorological conditions.
  • The aircraft's location, away from the primary VFR route, suggests the pilot may have been maneuvering to avoid clouds or had become lost while navigating through poor visibility.

Probable cause

The pilot likely attempted to maintain visual flight rules while flying into instrument meteorological conditions, leading to an inadvertent collision with terrain while maneuvering to avoid weather.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-10-22 Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain C-GKIY accident near 39 nm North of Terrace, British Columbia, CA?

A Piper **PA-31-350 Chieftain** was located by chance in the British Columbia mountains nearly four years after it disappeared during a scheduled flight.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-10-22 involved a Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain C-GKIY, operated by Trans Provincial Airlines, at 39 nm North of Terrace, British Columbia, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot likely attempted to maintain visual flight rules while flying into instrument meteorological conditions, leading to an inadvertent collision with terrain while maneuvering to avoid weather.

Loading the flight search…