Fatal Mountain Strike Involving C-GSEV Near Killarney, Ontario

Flight Details and Timeline on 1058 EDT to 1230 EDT on a private pleasure/travel flight from Windsor to Killarney, Ontario, carrying the pilot, his wife, and two other couples. The flight was planned in advance. The pilot began taxiing at 1058 EDT and received an IFR clearance to Killarney via radar vectors Sarnia, direct Wiarton, direct Killarney, to maintain 3,000 feet ASL. Takeoff occurred at 1105. The flight proceeded routinely under the IFR clearance and was later issued a final cruise altitude of 9,000 feet ASL, which the pilot reported level at 1125. At 1137, while 65 to 70 nm southwest of Wiarton, Ontario, the pilot was issued and acknowledged a clearance to fly direct to Killarney. At 1151, he requested and received a clearance to climb to 12,000 feet ASL to get above a cloud layer, reporting level at 1155. The flight passed 20 nm west of Wiarton at 1203. At 1206, the pilot was given the Sudbury altimeter setting of 29.913 and cleared to maintain 4,000 feet ASL at his convenience. He acknowledged and began descending from 12,000 feet ASL, 62 nm south of Killarney. Shortly after, the ATS controller advised that the IFR flight plan could be cancelled with the controller on his frequency while airborne or with the Sault Ste. Marie FSS on the ground by toll-free telephone. The controller asked another aircraft on the frequency to listen for an IFR cancellation from C-GSEV and relay it. At 1221, the pilot of C-GSEV advised he would be descending to 2,000 feet ASL. The controller advised the flight was in uncontrolled airspace and descent would be at the pilot's discretion. This was the last direct controller/pilot communication. The last recorded radar position was at 1223:43, when the aircraft slowed to 180 knots ground speed and was descending out of 3,000 feet ASL, 3 1/2 to 4 nm south of Killarney airport. At about 1224, another flight crew advised the controller that C-GSEV had cancelled the IFR flight plan. No further communication occurred after the cancellation. The aircraft was reported missing the following morning by friends and family of the passengers to officials of the pilot's company. Search and rescue authorities were notified at approximately 0930, and the wreckage was located late that afternoon. The aircraft struck the rock face of a mountain at 1,321 feet ASL in near level flight, on a northeast heading. The top of the mountain was 1,408 feet ASL. All six occupants were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed on impact. The accident occurred at about 1230 EDT during daylight hours, at latitude 46°02'N and longitude 081°26'W. The crew was Emidio Simone, pilot. Passengers were Laila Simone, William and Lynne Bolton, and David and Pauline Moore.