What happened
On the day of the accident, an aircraft departed from Eucott Bay, British Columbia, and began its initial climb. As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the pilot began a left-hand turn. This maneuver was intended to execute a standard 180-degree circuit, a routine procedure used to exit the local valley.
During this turning maneuver, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude. Although the pilot had increased engine power and the aircraft was in a climbing state prior to the turn, it began to descend toward the left. The aircraft subsequently entered a stall and impacted a forested area situated roughly 450 meters west of the departure point. The impact caused the aircraft to burst into flames. There were five fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing a standard departure procedure for the region.
- The descent and subsequent crash were caused by an aerodynamic stall during the left-hand turn.