What happened
On the night of May 24, 1999, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire departed from Parry Sound / Georgian Bay Airport, Ontario, bound for Toronto / Lester B. Pearson International Airport. The flight, which included the pilot and his son, was conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR) during a period of night flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Following a downwind takeoff, the aircraft began a left turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a shallow descent and struck trees approximately one nautical mile west of the airport. The impact caused the aircraft to lose structural integrity, roll inverted, and strike the ground, creating a 3ively 306-foot trail through a poplar forest. Both occupants of the Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's credentials, and the environmental factors present at the time of the accident. Engine and propeller examinations confirmed that both engines were producing power and no mechanical failures were identified that would have prevented normal operation. However, investigators found that the aircraft's flaps were in a partially retracted state (between zero and five degrees) during the turn, suggesting they were being raised shortly after takeoff.
Regarding the pilot's qualifications, records revealed that while the pilot held a private pilot licence, he lacked the required instrument rating for the flight and did not possess the necessary high-performance type rating for the Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire. Additionally, discrepancies were noted regarding the pilot's medical history, specifically concerning undisclosed hypertension and diabetes management.
Findings
- The flight was conducted at night in IMC by a pilot who was not certified for IFR operations.
- The pilot may have experienced a somatogravic illusion, leading to an uncontrolled descent into terrain.
- The pilot's medical conditions and medications were not fully disclosed during his last civil aviation medical examination.
- The departure appeared rushed due to late arrival at the airport, contributing to the pilot performing configuration changes, such as retracting flaps, during a critical phase of flight.
- The pilot was not endorsed for high-performance aircraft operations.
- The aircraft struck trees while in a shallow descent, causing it to roll inverted and impact the ground at high speed.