What happened
A private flight intended for leisure travel departed Windsor, Ontario, with the goal of reaching Killarender. The flight, carrying the pilot and five passengers, operated under instrument flight rules (IFR) and initially climbed to 12,000 feet to clear a cloud layer. During the flight, the pilot received various clearances, including a descent instruction to maintain 4,000 feet following an altimeter setting update.
At approximately 12:21 EDT, the pilot indicated an intention to descend to 2,000 feet. Following this, the pilot cancelled the IFR flight plan. The last recorded radar contact occurred at 12:23:43, showing the C-GSEV slowing to 180 knots while descending through 3,000 feet, positioned roughly 4 nautical miles south of Killarney. Shortly after the flight plan cancellation, the aircraft disappeared from radar.
After the aircraft was reported missing the following morning, search and rescue teams located the wreckage late in the afternoon. The C-GSEV, an aircraft type not specified but operating as a private transport, had struck a mountain rock face at 1,321 feet altitude while flying in a nearly level position on a northeast heading. The impact resulted in 6 fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft was in the descent phase of flight when it struck terrain.
- The collision occurred at an elevation of 1,321 feet, just below the 1,408-foot peak of the mountain.
- The aircraft struck a mountain face during its descent.