Flight Details
The aircraft, a Raytheon Beechcraft King Air 200 (registration C-FCGL, serial number BB190), departed Vancouver, British Columbia, at 0824 Pacific daylight time on July 28, 2005. It was operating as NTA202 (Northern Thunderbird Air) on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight to Smithers, British Columbia, with a crew of two.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft did not arrive at its destination, prompting a search that began later that day. The wreckage was located on July 30, 2005, in a narrow canyon at an elevation of approximately 3,900 feet above sea level, in an area of steeply rising terrain. The crash occurred at about 0840 Pacific daylight time. A post-crash fire destroyed most of the aircraft, and the emergency locator transmitter was destroyed in the fire, with no signal detected.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the aircraft was flown up a narrow canyon into rapidly rising terrain for reasons that could not be determined. The proximity to terrain and the narrowness of the canyon precluded a turn, and the aircraft’s climb rate was insufficient to clear the rising terrain. The pilot decision-making training received by the crew members was found to be ineffective because they were unprepared for the unique hazards and special operating techniques associated with flying low in mountainous terrain. Additionally, the company operations manual provided no guidance for VFR flight except for a provision that flights should not be conducted closer to obstacles than 500 feet vertically and horizontally.