What happened
During a flight traveling from Lethbridge toward Vernon, the pilot of the aircraft was cruising at 12,000 feet when a fire began in the rear section of the passenger cabin. Following the outbreak of flames, the pilot notified air traffic control of an emergency situation. In an effort to manage the crisis, the crew lowered the flight altitude and initially intended to divert the flight to Pincher Creek Airport.
However, as smoke and fire continued to expand throughout the interior of the cabin, the crew determined that a diversion was no longer feasible. The pilot instead executed an emergency landing in an open field situated approximately 8 km east of Brocket. Upon touchdown, the aircraft caught fire and was subsequently destroyed. Despite the intensity of the flames, all 28 occupants successfully evacuated the plane without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor was an unidentified fire that originated in the passenger cabin, specifically in the area near the lavatory.