Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident aircraft was a privately registered Cessna 421C, conducting a recreational instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Tofino-Long Beach Airport (CYAZ), British Columbia, to Portland International Airport (KPDX), Oregon, United States. On board were one pilot and two passengers.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft departed runway 16 at approximately 1242 local time. Shortly after takeoff, the occupants observed flames coming from the top of the right engine cowling. The aircraft turned east and joined the left downwind leg for runway 25, leveling off at approximately 320 feet above ground level (AGL). The aircraft then performed a descending steep turn toward the threshold of runway 25, overshooting the runway centreline to the north. During this turn, the rate of descent increased significantly. At 1243 local time, approximately one minute after takeoff, the aircraft impacted the ground north of runway 25 in a wings-level attitude with the landing gear extended and flaps partially extended. The initial impact point was approximately 206 feet past the runway threshold and 157 feet north of the paved surface of runway 25.
Injuries and Damage
After impact, the main landing gear separated from the aircraft. The aircraft travelled approximately 450 feet along the ground before coming to rest. When the aircraft was about midway through this ground travel, it caught fire. One passenger received serious injuries but was able to exit the aircraft. The pilot and the other passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed by the post-impact fire. The Canadian Mission Control Centre did not receive an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal from the aircraft.
Probable Cause
An in-flight fire, located in the right engine nacelle, occurred just after takeoff. The fire characteristics were consistent with a turbocharger exhaust fire resulting from a disconnected turbocharger exhaust pipe. It is unknown if the aircraft fire warning system activated.