What happened
On a flight from Québec Airport to Gaspé Airport, a Cessna 335, registration C-GMZV, crashed while attempting a back course approach to runway 29. The flight, operated by Myrand Aviation, carried two pilots and two passengers. While the initial weather forecasts suggested manageable conditions, the weather deteriorated significantly during the flight, with visibility dropping to one-quarter mile in heavy snow and ceilings falling to 200 feet.
During the final stages of the approach, the pilot reported being two miles from the runway. Shortly after, the aircraft struck the ground in a 60-degree left bank. The impact was severe, and a massive fuel-fed fire consumed the wreckage. All four occupants sustained fatal injuries. The wreckage was discovered by a search team near a dirt road bordering the runway.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical state and the flight crew's experience. The Cessna 335 was found to be in good maintenance standing, with no evidence of mechanical failure or system malfunctions. The engines were producing power at the moment of impact, and the landing gear was in the up position. The flight instruments, including the autopilot, were functioning normally, though the autopilot was not engaged during the approach.
The investigation also reviewed the pilots' qualifications. While both the pilot-in-command and the co-pilot were certified for the flight, they possessed relatively limited experience in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions. Additionally, investigators looked into the use of the aerodrome lighting system, noting that the crew did not activate the remote-controlled lighting via the ARCAL system during their approach.
Findings
- The environmental conditions at Gaspé Airport, characterized by heavy snow and a lack of visual ground references, were highly conducive to spatial disorientation.
- The pilot likely experienced a somatogravic illusion, specifically a false-climb illusion, which can lead a pilot to push the aircraft into a nose-down attitude to counteract a perceived upward tilt.
- The crew's failure to activate the aerodrome lighting system contributed to the difficulty in maintaining orientation.
- The pilot became disoriented during the overshoot and was unable to recover the aircraft's attitude before impact.