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 KELOWMA 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 and commenced the takeoff roll from the intersection of Runway 34 and Taxiway D.
During the initial climb, radar monitoring indicated that the aircraft type was deviating significantly to the right of its assigned 330° magnetic track. While the aircraft initially showed a high rate of climb exceeding 4000 feet per minute, its flight path became increasingly unstable. By the time the pilot contacted the Vancouver Area Control Centre (ACC) at 6000 feet ASL, the aircraft had drifted further from the intended SID route. Following instructions from the ACC to turn toward the MENBO waypoint, the aircraft began a right-hand maneuver.
After reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 8600 feet ASL, the aircraft entered a steep descending right turn characterized by the flight patterns of a spiral dive. Shortly after the controller issued a clearance to climb to FL 250, the aircraft disappeared from radar and radio contact. First responders located the wreckage in a forested area near midnight. The impact resulted in 4 fatalities and no survivors.
Findings
- The aircraft departed controlled flight for undetermined reasons and struck the terrain.