What happened
The flight departed with the first officer handling the takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, the captain shut down the left outboard engine and feathered its propeller to simulate an emergency for training purposes. The aircraft climbed slowly while veering slightly left, passing over central Edmonton at an altitude of only 400 to 500 feet. After turning right to align with the course toward Anchorage, the captain restored power to the engine. Although the crew reported reaching a cruising altitude of 7,000 feet in a radio transmission, evidence indicates the aircraft never exceeded 3,000 feet MSL, which was just 700 feet above the terrain.
While flying at this low level over wooded and rising terrain, the captain feathered the propellers of both left engines to continue instructing the first officer. The crew soon realized the situation had become a genuine emergency as the aircraft descended dangerously close to the ground. The captain took control and attempted to restart the engines, but before sufficient power was restored, the aircraft struck treetops. It crashed and burned several hundred feet beyond the initial point of impact.
Findings
The investigation found no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft or its engines. Surviving crew members confirmed that the only irregularity was the intentional shutdown of the left engines for training. The operator stated that such simulated emergency procedures are not authorized at low altitudes over congested areas and should only be conducted during specific pilot checks or training flights. The board concluded that the accident resulted from the captain's decision to perform these maneuvers at a dangerously low altitude.