What happened
The flight originated at Claresholm Airport in southeast Alberta, where the crew departed for a planned navigation exercise to Manyberries. During the return segment of the journey, the pilots lost their position and became disoriented. As dusk fell over hilly terrain, the aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion. The airplane subsequently entered an uncontrolled dive and impacted the ground near Fort Benton, Montana. Both members of the crew survived the impact with only minor injuries.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident resulted from the crew's inability to maintain situational awareness. This loss of position was attributed to the use of incorrect methods for pilot navigation, which prevented them from reaching a suitable landing area before fuel reserves were depleted.