Incident Overview
On the evening of an unspecified date, a Navair Charter Piper PA-31 operating as flight FCV705 was on a night instrument flight rules (IFR) mail courier flight from Williams Lake, British Columbia, to Kamloops. The crew consisted of two pilots. While conducting an instrument approach to Kamloops Airport, the aircraft entered an area clear of cloud. The captain then cancelled the IFR flight plan and initiated a visual flight rules (VFR) descent for a visual approach to the airport.
Collision and Injuries
At 1902 Pacific Standard Time, the aircraft collided with trees at an elevation of 2,400 feet above sea level, approximately seven nautical miles east-southeast of the Kamloops Airport. The impact location was over mountainous terrain. The captain sustained fatal injuries on impact, while the first officer received serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision and subsequent post-crash fire.
Official Findings
The investigation determined the probable cause to be that the aircraft collided with trees during a night, VFR descent over mountainous terrain because the crew had inadequate visual cues to accurately determine their height above the ground. Contributing factors included the captain's decision to cancel the IFR flight plan and attempt a visual approach from well outside the published VFR circuit area, the inherent risks of VFR flight in mountainous regions, and a requirement by the crew to remain clear of departing IFR traffic from the Kamloops Airport.