4 fatalities

1990-10-22: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain (C-GKIY) — Trans-Provincial Airlines - TPA — Terrace, Canada

Terrace, CanadaFlight

On October 22, 1990, a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain (registration C-GKIY) operated by Trans-Provincial Airlines - TPA was involved in an aviation accident near Terrace, Canada in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot likely attempted to continue the visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781212507Data APIEditorial standards

A VFR flight from Terrace to Bronson Creek and back lost contact shortly after departure; wreckage discovered nearly four years later. Probable cause: pilot likely attempted to continue VFR into IMC.

Disappearance and Search

On an unspecified date, a scheduled visual flight rules (VFR) flight departed Terrace, British Columbia, at approximately 1005 Pacific standard time (PST). The aircraft followed a route to Iskut, Dease Lake, Bronson Creek, and back to Terrace. All legs up to Bronson Creek were completed without incident. The aircraft departed Bronson Creek for Terrace at about 1350 with the pilot and three passengers on board.

Ten minutes after departure, the pilot spoke via radio with another pilot flying from Smithers to Bronson Creek as the two aircraft passed each other approximately 20 miles east of Bronson Creek, in the Iskut River valley just east of the confluence of the Forest Kerr River and the Iskut River. This was the last reported contact; the pilot did not report any problem.

After the aircraft was reported missing, an air and ground search commenced but was eventually abandoned without finding the aircraft. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was detected.

Discovery of Wreckage

Nearly four years after the accident, on 05 August 1994, the wreckage was found by chance.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause: the pilot likely attempted to continue the visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions.