What happened
On the morning of October 10, 1999, a Cessna 172M departed Bancroft, Ontario, for a local sightseeing flight under visual flight rules. Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot encountered worsening weather and decided to return to the aerodrome. Rather than maintaining visual contact with the ground, the pilot climbed into clouds, entering instrument meteorological conditions.
Using a local radio station via an automatic direction finder for navigation, the pilot held near the Bancroft Aerodrome at 2/600 feet above sea level for about an hour. As fuel levels became a concern and weather showed no signs of improving, the pilot attempted to land at Bancroft. After descending to approximately 300 to 400 feet above ground level, the pilot regained visual contact with the ground in fog with only one-quarter mile visibility. While attempting to maneuver for a visual approach to runway 12, the aircraft struck trees and crashed on a wooded hillside roughly one mile west of the aerodrome. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire, though the pilot and two passengers escaped with minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot had a valid instrument rating but lacked practical experience in instrument flight rules (IFR) environments. While the pilot had checked weather forecasts for nearby areas like Muskoka and Peterborough, he did not consult the automated weather observation system (AWOS) for Bancroft, which indicated high humidity and light winds conducive to fog formation.
Investigators found that the pilot's decision to fly the second leg of the trip was based on the favorable weather observed during an earlier flight that morning. During the incident, the pilot flew in controlled airspace within instrument meteorological conditions without an IFR clearance and at an altitude below the minimum safe altitude for the area. Furthermore, the pilot did not carry necessary IFR publications, and his portable GPS was unreliable.
Findings
- The pilot attempted a cloud-breaking procedure to execute a visual approach while flying below safe altitudes in IMC.
- The pilot's lack of experience in IFR environments and inadequate preparation for deteriorating weather contributed to the accident.
- The pilot failed to utilize all available weather information, specifically neglecting the Bancroft AWOS report.
- The pilot's decision to hold in the vicinity of the aerodrome was heavily influenced by the expectation that low clouds would quickly dissipate.