Piper Navajo Chieftain accident near Bathurst, New Brunswick

2 fatalities • Bathurst, Canada • Landing (descent or approach)

A Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed during an instrument approach to Bathurst, New Brunswick, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.

What happened

On a scheduled courier flight from Moncton, New Brunswick, to Bathurst, a Piper Navajo Chieftain, registered as C-GNPG, encountered a fatal accident during the approach phase. The flight, operated by Empress 204, departed Moncton at 1805 AST with a two-pilot crew and no cargo on board. While cruising at 8,000 feet, the aircraft received clearance from the Moncton Area Control Centre to begin its approach to Bathurst.

Prior to the descent, the co-pilot notified Bathurst UNICOM of the intention to perform an NDB/DME approach to runway 10. During the execution of this non-precision instrument approach, the aircraft struck trees at an elevation of 450 feet. The impact occurred approximately 3.75 nautical miles from the airport and 0.75 nautical miles inside the Bathurst beacon. The accident took place at 1845 AST under instrument meteorological conditions and in darkness. The crash resulted in two fatalities.

Findings

  • The aircraft was operating in instrument meteorological conditions and during nighttime hours.
  • The impact occurred during a non-precision instrument approach using NDB/DME navigation.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck trees while performing a non-precision instrument approach in low-visibility conditions.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1994-01-04 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident near Bathurst, Canada?

A Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed during an instrument approach to Bathurst, New Brunswick, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.

Were there any fatalities in the 1994-01-04 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1994-01-04 involved a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, registration C-GNPG, operated by Preferred Flights, at Bathurst, Canada.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft struck trees while performing a non-precision instrument approach in low-visibility conditions.

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