What happened
On the morning of March 14, a Piper Seneca 1, registered C-GRFE, departed Calgary, Alberta, for a private flight to Grande Prairie. The aircraft was being used to transport four passengers for a weekend trip. During the instrument flight rules (IFR) approach to runway 29 at Grande Prairie, the aircraft encountered severe weather, including fog with visibility as low as 100 feet and a 200-foot ceiling.
As the aircraft descended, it struck a lamp standard located near a highway at approximately 18 feet above the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to enter a steep left turn, leading to a wing strike and a subsequent cartwheel onto its nose. The impact was so severe that the five occupants were fatally injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed the Piper Seneca 1 was properly certified and maintained, though it was not equipped for flight into known icing conditions. The pilot's experience was reviewed, noting that while he held a commercial license, this flight represented his first approach in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Radar data revealed that the aircraft was not accurately tracking the localizer during the descent, exhibiting left and right oscillations. Additionally, investigators found that while two other aircraft had performed missed approaches at the same airport earlier that morning due to poor visibility, this information was not communicated to the pilot of C-GRFE.
Findings
- The weather at Grande Prairie was below the published minimums for the ILS approach.
- The pilot descended below the decision height of 200 feet agl.
- The pilot was likely attempting an overshoot maneuver when the aircraft struck the lamp standard.
- The pilot had not requested a weather update during the flight, leaving him unaware of how much conditions had deteriorated since his initial briefing.
- The pilot's lack of experience in IMC contributed to the difficulty in maintaining the approach parameters.