Aircraft Collision with Terrain Near Penticton Airport (CF-CUF)

Incident Overview and Immediate Outcome During an instrument approach to Penticton in marginal weather, the aircraft encountered several trees. The impact sheared off the left wing, causing the aircraft to rotate to the left and crash in a snow-covered, wooded area on Mt Okanagan, approximately 27 km north of Penticton Airport. Sixteen occupants were evacuated from the wreckage, with some sustaining injuries. Both pilots were killed in the accident. ## Official Findings The investigation determined that the crew initiated the descent prematurely. This action caused the aircraft to fly below the minimum safe altitude of 6,500 feet, which was established to clear Mt Okanagan. The aircraft struck the mountain because it was below the permissible minimum altitude when passing through the Greata fan marker during the instrument approach procedure on the Penticton Radio Range.