Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314 Accident (C-FPWC)

Flight Details and Approach Sequence Pacific Western Airlines Flight 314 was a scheduled Boeing 737 service operating from Fort McMurray, Alberta, to Castlegar, with intermediate stops at Edmonton, Calgary, and Cranbrook, British Columbia. On 11 February 1978, the flight departed Calgary at 1932Z for Cranbrook, with an estimated time en route of 23 minutes. The aircraft was cleared via high-level airway 505 and reached its assigned altitude of 20,000 feet at 1938Z. Calgary Air Traffic Control transmitted an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of 2005Z to Cranbrook Aeradio. Cranbrook is an uncontrolled airport within controlled airspace, served by an Aeradio station providing communications, weather, and advisory services. At the time, snow was falling at Cranbrook with visibility reported as 1/4 of a mile, and a radio-equipped snow removal vehicle was sweeping the runway. The Aeradio operator alerted the vehicle operator about the incoming aircraft at 1935Z, providing the ETA of 2005Z. Both expected the flight to report by the Skookum Beacon on a straight-in approach to runway 16, allowing approximately seven minutes for the vehicle to clear the runway. At 1942Z, Flight 314 requested and received descent clearance from Calgary, along with clearance for the approach to Cranbrook. At 1944Z, the flight called out of 18,000 feet, and Calgary ATC advised the crew to contact Aeradio. Initial contact with Cranbrook Aeradio was made at 1945Z, and at 1946Z, the latest weather, altimeter, and runway information was provided. At 1947Z, Cranbrook Aeradio advised the flight that snow removal was in progress and provided the latest visibility, which was acknowledged by Flight 314. No further transmissions were received from the flight by Aeradio or ATC. Evidence indicates the aircraft passed the Skookum beacon inbound on a straight-in instrument approach and flew the ILS for runway 16 to touchdown.