What happened
The incident occurred during a local familiarization exercise departing from Calgary Airport. Shortly after the initial climb, witnesses observed the aircraft entering a steep left-hand spiral at an altitude of approximately 200 feet. The machine subsequently disappeared from view and impacted the ground.
The accident resulted in the death of the pilot. The two other individuals on board sustained minor injuries. The crew consisted of the pilot and two other military personnel who were part of the training exercise.
Findings
Investigations indicated that atmospheric conditions played a critical role in the event. Frost accumulated on the windows, which obscured the pilot's view. This loss of visibility likely occurred while the crew was managing the landing gear configuration.
Due to the blocked vision, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled downward left turn. The pilot was unable to recover the machine before it struck the ground. Additionally, findings noted that a relatively inexperienced staff pilot authorized the takeoff in violation of standard instructions regarding pupil operations.