Fatal Crash - Gabriola Island - Dec 10, 2019

[golden hawk]

https://theprovince.com/news/local-news ... 2a9c8aa825

https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/br ... la-island/

[bald seagull]

Aerostar

[milotron]

Heading north evidently when the track was lost. Look like it was on the approach into Nanaimo.

[enbt]

Maybe it’s just me, but at first glance this looks a lot like the accident in Kingston a few weeks ago, ie a private US based plane, flying at or near dark in questionable weather.

[milotron]

Flightradar shows it was 26,000 from California/Nevada area.
The data was hidden, but I have some suspicions who it might be and have sent some emails and calls out.

Tragic loss for sure.

[CpnCrunch]

Maybe it’s just me, but at first glance this looks a lot like the accident in Kingston a few weeks ago, ie a private US based plane, flying at or near dark in questionable weather.

We don't know the registration yet, and it was presumably on an IFR flight plan (as it was at FL260 in IFR weather). Weather shouldn't have been a factor...there was zero wind, overcast 400ft, 2SM visibility, and it would have been at 1700+ ft at that part of the RNAV 16 approach anyway. Weather might have been more of a problem on the approach, as the minimums are 530ft, but they didn't get that far. Track log shows speed dropping from 160kt to 100kt while altitude climbs from 2000 to 2300 ft.

[Its What I do]

Heard Nanaimo Aerostar . Based in Alberta .

Very sad .....

[milotron]

Heard Nanaimo Aerostar . Based in Alberta .

Very sad .....

I was hoping this wasn't the case, but I know he has the tracking turned off.

Very sad indeed and hitting much closer to home if that is the case.

[cncpc]

Any insights into that speed altitude graph in the Sun?

[bigsky]

RIP

'An amazing pilot and flight instructor': Friends remember aviator who died in Gabriola Island crash'

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- ... -1.5392599

[Squaretail]

Terrible news to hear. Great guy, pleasure to fly with. He'll be missed.

[neil_ame]

Anyone have an idea of the Registration or Serial number?

[rigpiggy]

QYW

https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ ... c&m=%7c%7c

[youngtimer]

Alex was a great guy, super friendly and an excellent pilot. He was a great chief pilot for me and was a large part in getting my career started a couple decades ago. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and community, of which I know he was a large part...

[kevind]

Did he used to own the High River Flight Centre?

[Jean-Pierre]

Any insights into that speed altitude graph in the Sun?

I would say allowing the airspeed to drop below Vmca after an engine failure cause the airplane to roll over and he lose control.

Weather shouldn't have been a factor...there was zero wind, overcast 400ft, 2SM visibility.... minimums are 530ft

Shooting approach with weather much below minimum is never a great idea and it suggest there may be some human factor to this accident.

[shamrock104]

Yes, he did own the High River Flight Centre. Did my Instructor rating with him. Great guy and condolences to his family.

[CpnCrunch]

Shooting approach with weather much below minimum is never a great idea and it suggest there may be some human factor to this accident.

The ceiling was ragged, so with 2SM visibility there was probably a reasonable chance of getting in.

[mmm..bacon]

I would say allowing the airspeed to drop below Vmca after an engine failure cause the airplane to roll over and he lose control.

Pure speculation (‘cos that’s what we do here...) Almost 900 miles from California..too much air in the tanks? Anyone have the numbers for useful load for an Aerostar?

Sad thing to happen, just before Christmas.

[Jean-Pierre]

Speculation based on a witness that said "She looked up in time to see a plane flying out of control, doing what appeared to be a roll low in the sky."

There was an explosion on impact that lit up the whole sky according to another witness so I don't think it was out of fuel.

[Axial Flow]

CBC Article

Photo from the above article appears to show trim tab located in a quite nose up position (if the data plate is what is on the underside which it appears in photo).

[cncpc]

CBC Article

Photo from the above article appears to show trim tab located in a quite nose up position (if the data plate is what is on the underside which it appears in photo).

Not discounting other possibilities, but a starting point is that the tab was moved by cables stretching in the impact sequence.

[cncpc]

Any insights into that speed altitude graph in the Sun?

I would say allowing the airspeed to drop below Vmca after an engine failure cause the airplane to roll over and he lose control.

Weather shouldn't have been a factor...there was zero wind, overcast 400ft, 2SM visibility.... minimums are 530ft

Shooting approach with weather much below minimum is never a great idea and it suggest there may be some human factor to this accident.

Jean Pierre, with respect, learn first, then know everything. That is not to say you know nothing. You are picking up things that are valuable to have in your airmanship lunchbox. Don't get me wrong. Retain that, and build on it. Here's some insights.

This pilot was a very experienced pilot. He was widely respected. I highly doubt that he would have lost control as a result of an engine failure. In this phase of flight, he surely wasn't at full throttle, the worst time for one to calve. I listened to YVR app/dep and didn't hear a Mayday or any indication of difficulty. As well, the Aerostar, with its engines so close to the fuselage, has a lesser tendency to yaw and roll with asymmetric power than other twin side by sides. Not that it won't.

Generally, you are right about shooting approaches when the weather is below minimums. Specifically, though, that is irrelevant as this accident happened 10 miles from the airport.

I hope that's been helpful. It is always good to have an interest in being aware of the factors in an accident as your life as a pilot advances.

[cncpc]

Any insights into that speed altitude graph in the Sun?

I would say allowing the airspeed to drop below Vmca after an engine failure cause the airplane to roll over and he lose control.

Weather shouldn't have been a factor...there was zero wind, overcast 400ft, 2SM visibility.... minimums are 530ft

Shooting approach with weather much below minimum is never a great idea and it suggest there may be some human factor to this accident.

Jean Pierre, with respect, learn first, then know everything. That is not to say you know nothing. You are picking up things that are valuable to have in your airmanship lunchbox. Don't get me wrong. Retain that, and build on it. Here's some insights.

This pilot was a very experienced pilot. He was widely respected. I highly doubt that he would have lost control as a result of an engine failure. In this phase of flight, he surely wasn't at full throttle, the worst time for one to calve. I listened to YVR app/dep and didn't hear a Mayday or any indication of difficulty. As well, the Aerostar, with its engines so close to the fuselage, has a lesser tendency to yaw and roll with asymmetric power than other twin side by sides. Not that it won't.

Generally, you are right about shooting approaches when the weather is below minimums. Specifically, though, that is irrelevant as this accident happened 10 miles from the airport.

I hope that's been helpful. It is always good to have an interest in being aware of the factors in an accident as your life as a pilot advances.

I know that graph looks pretty scary, but you have to remember this is the approach phase, and to be aware of what is being represented. The speed is groundspeed, not airspeed. It comes from ADS-B on Flightaware. As the video part in the Sun shows, the aircraft seems to be under control and behaving normally. The abnormality is the sharp right turn at the end. I don't see a reason for that, but...

[cncpc]

Total instrument failure? Mayday out?

https://globalnews.ca/news/6289634/3-pe ... island-bc/