What happened
A scheduled passenger flight operated by Airco Aircraft Charters, on behalf of Northern Sky Aviation, was conducting a multi-stop itinerary through Alberta. After completing the initial legs from Edmonton City Centre Airport to High Level and Rainbow Lake, the Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain (registration not provided) prepared for its return leg to Edmonton.
At 19:35 MST, the aircraft departed Rainbow Lake on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight. Shortly after lifting off from runway 27, the plane struck trees and terrain roughly 3,000 feet west of the runway's departure end. All nine occupants survived the impact with only minor injuries, though the airframe suffered substantial damage.
Emergency services were alerted by a passenger via mobile phone shortly after the crew evacuated the wreckage. Initial search efforts involving snowmobiles and a helicopter faced significant challenges due to deep snow, freezing temperatures, dense forest, and nighttime visibility. The aircraft was located during the first pass of an aerial search, allowing ground teams to reach the site within 90 minutes and transport survivors to a local nursing station.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft entered controlled flight into terrain because the pilot failed to maintain a positive rate of climb following takeoff. Several contributing elements were identified, including the pilot's preoccupation with maintaining blue line speed instead of monitoring climb performance, the presence of rising terrain during the departure profile, and the operation of an overweight aircraft. Additionally, dark ambient conditions and issues regarding crew resource management played roles in the accident.