What happened
The incident involved a solo training flight that originated from RCAF Greenwood. During the maneuvering phase, witnesses reported seeing the aircraft circling at a low altitude. Shortly after this observation, the plane executed a sudden dive toward the ground in an area north of Canaan. Upon impact, part of the wing structure detached, and the airframe crashed into trees before catching fire. The pilot was killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation identified error of judgment as the primary contributing factor. Specifically, the pilot was diving and turning at excessive speeds, which led to a structural failure of the mainplanes. While the evidence was noted as not entirely conclusive, it was determined that the high speed attained during these maneuvers caused the wing structure to fail.