What happened
On the night of the accident, a pilot and three passengers prepared for departure from Kelowna International Airport. After receiving an IFR clearance for the KELOWNA SEVEN DEP standard instrument departure (SID) via Runway 34, the aircraft, C-GTNG, began taxiing at 2127. The pilot received takeoff clearance from the tower at 2131, departing from the intersection of Runway 34 and Taxiway D.
During the initial climb, radar tracking indicated that the Cessna (implied by context of flight type, though the source only provides registration C-GTNG) began to deviate from the assigned 330° magnetic track. As the aircraft climbed through various altitudes, its lateral deviation to the right increased significantly, reaching approximately 20° by the time it passed 5800 feet ASL. At 2134:42, the pilot established contact with the Vancouver Area Control Centre while climbing through 6000 feet ASL. The controller provided instructions for a right turn toward the MENBO waypoint and a climb to 10,000 feet ASL.
While executing the turn, the aircraft reached a peak altitude of roughly 8600 feet ASL. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered a steep descending right-hand turn, exhibiting the characteristics of a spiral dive. Following a clearance to climb to FL 250, the aircraft disappeared from radar. Search efforts were initiated after radio contact was lost, and the wreckage was discovered in a forested area near midnight. The accident resulted in 4 fatalities.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a steep descending turn consistent with a spiral dive pattern after reaching its peak altitude.