Accident Overview
On a night instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Williams Lake, British Columbia, to Kamloops, a Navair Charter Piper PA-31 (flight FCV705) was conducting an instrument approach when the crew encountered a break in clouds. The captain cancelled the IFR flight plan and initiated a visual flight rules (VFR) descent. At 1902 Pacific Standard Time, the aircraft struck trees at an elevation of 2,400 feet above sea level, approximately seven nautical miles east-southeast of Kamloops Airport. The captain sustained fatal injuries on impact; the first officer was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by the crash and subsequent fire.
Flight History
The flight originated as FCV704 from Vancouver at 0633 PST, arriving in Williams Lake at 0838. After securing the aircraft, the crew rested until late afternoon. They returned to the airport at 1730; the first officer prepared the aircraft while the captain obtained a weather briefing. A mail delivery vehicle arrived 10 minutes late, and 210 pounds of freight was loaded. The return flight, now FCV705, departed Williams Lake at 1815.
Approaching Kamloops at 11,000 feet, the crew contacted company flight FCV719, an MU-2 that had arrived earlier. Its crew reported a break in cloud cover on the localizer about eight nautical miles from the airport and had performed a visual approach. The FCV705 crew discussed cancelling IFR; the first officer, flying from the left seat, expressed concern about a visual descent over dark terrain and briefed the captain on the full IFR procedure.
Weather and Approach
At 1852, the crew began an instrument approach for runway 26. The lowest minimum descent altitude for their category B aircraft was 3,200 feet above sea level (2,067 feet above ground). The 0200Z weather (more than one hour old) reported 800 feet scattered, measured ceiling 1,900 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles. At accident time, weather was 800 feet scattered, ceiling 1,600 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles. Both forecast and reported ceiling were below approach minima. During the outbound leg, the crew saw a break in the clouds—about 10 nautical miles wide, centred on the localizer. The captain cancelled IFR at 1855, took over control, and began a circling descent perpendicular to the localizer in a figure-eight pattern. At 1858, they reported descending at 10 nautical miles; 40 seconds later they were through 5,000 feet.
Collision and Findings
At 1901, air traffic services released a DHC-8 for departure on runway 08, placing it on a conflicting track with FCV705. The crew was aware of the traffic. At 1901:26, the flight service station called for a position update; the pilot reported eight nautical miles DME out, descending through 2,500 feet. No further communication occurred. At 1905, the RCMP reported a possible accident in the Juniper Ridge area.
The Kamloops airport is surrounded by mountainous terrain. Published night circuit procedures recommend local familiarity, operational hazard beacons, and turns within the beacon perimeter. The hazard beacons were operating normally. The instrument approach for runway 26 follows the South Thompson River valley; terrain on both sides rises to at least 3,000 feet. The accident site was on high ground outside the normal VFR circuit area.
The crew was properly licensed and qualified. The captain, employed by Navair for three years, was familiar with the area; the first officer, employed three and a half months, had flown this route about 14 times. The aircraft was certified and maintained. Post-crash fire prevented determination of pre-impact failures; none were identified. The first officer wore a shoulder harness and believed it saved his life; the captain did not wear his. A Transport Canada audit had found the company maintained satisfactory standards.
The prevailing weather met VFR minimums under air navigation orders, but the dark, overcast night and sparsely lit terrain reduced visual cues for judging altitude and terrain clearance. The captain's decision to cancel IFR and descend from outside the published VFR circuit area, coupled with limited visual references, led to the collision with trees.