Sealand Flight Cessna 172 crashes near Nanaimo

[Jean-Pierre]

The pilot is deceased unfortunately. Witness state it occurred around 3am. He stated it was misty, though that was at 7am.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- ... -9.6995059

[Jean-Pierre]

The area of the crash appears to have rising terrain.

Screenshot_20251127_153119_Firefox~2.jpg (200.69 KiB) Viewed 2454 times

[Me262]

Seems like CFIT. Unfortunately we will never know since Cessnas don't carry FDRs

[digits_]

Very unusual to have a c172 fly around at 3 am.

[Me262]

Very unusual to have a c172 fly around at 3 am.

Let's all thank TC retarded requirements where super low timer students need to either fly at 3am for Night CX PIC or fly 300NM radius in a single engine piston over Rockies in winter. Very safe indeed.

[Dry Guy]

What is going on with flight training schools? I can't remember a year with so many fatalities.

[digits_]

Very unusual to have a c172 fly around at 3 am.

Let's all thank TC retarded requirements where super low timer students need to either fly at 3am for Night CX PIC or fly 300NM radius in a single engine piston over Rockies in winter. Very safe indeed.

If time building was the goal, it could just as well have been done at 10pm. I like a good TC bashing at times but I don't see a link with this one.

[Dry Guy]

10pm dark is safer than 3am dark because it's earlier.

[digits_]

10pm dark is safer than 3am dark because it's earlier.

Well yes, generally. Especially for training flights. Less chance for fatigue. Weather closer to what you actually saw during day time. But perhaps the pilot was on a night circadian rhythm for whatever reason and this wasn't a factor. Just thought it was noteworthy.

[‘Bob’]

10pm dark is safer than 3am dark because it's earlier.

It literally is. Look up circadian rhythms.

RIP and condolences to those affected.

[PropsForwardGearDown]

I remember flying ZBB - YBL - YCD - YYJ - ZBB during the night rating and time building phase, not really what I’d call a comfortable flight in a VFR piston single at night, especially at 3am in late November. Hopefully not a case of someone pushing their limits to meet a night time requirement. RIP to the victim.

[scdriver]

It was ugly all day yesterday and this morning. Certainly not the kind of wx anyone should be bombing around in VFR at night. Shitty one

[SpyPilot]

.

[SpyPilot]

10pm dark is safer than 3am dark because it's earlier.

Hogwash

And just how is that exactly?

It literally is. Look up circadian rhythms.

Hogwash

Look up maybe working a 4pm to midnight shift and going to the airport to log some (admittedly poor WX decision) night hours.

[cdnavater]

10pm dark is safer than 3am dark because it's earlier.

Hogwash

And just how is that exactly?

It literally is. Look up circadian rhythms.

Hogwash

Look up maybe working a 4pm to midnight shift and going to the airport to log some (admittedly poor WX decision) night hours.

You’re disputing a scientific fact? Even shift workers are not immune to the natural circadian rhythm!

“Shift work disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, a natural 24-hour cycle, leading to health problems like sleep disorders, increased risk of accidents, metabolic disorders, and other issues.”

[Daniel Cooper]

I really don't think they flew into a mountain because of circadian rhythms.

[SpyPilot]

What he said.

In a year or two when the TSB release their official findings and if CR is listed anywhere in the report, I'll eat my hat.

[cdnavater]

What he said.

In a year or two when the TSB release their official findings and if CR is listed anywhere in the report, I'll eat my hat.

Unless this was an intentional act, they will mention fatigue as a factor, will they actually use the words circadian rhythm, maybe.
I’m not saying this was a big factor but the poster mentioned 10pm being safer dark than 3 am dark and your response was “hogwash”, which is disputing scientific fact!
There is a reason that if you start flying after midnight you are restricted to a much shorter duty day!

[pelmet]

From TSB...

C-GFYW, a Sealand Flight Limited Cessna 172M, departed Nanaimo Airport (CYCD), BC, on an
unscheduled flight of which the aircraft owner was unaware. Only the pilot was on board. The
aircraft departed Runway 34 at CYCD at approximately 0300 Pacific Standard Time (PST) and
collided with terrain at approximately 0304 PST. The pilot received fatal injuries. The aircraft was
destroyed. The aircraft emergency locator transmitter (ELT) did not produce a signal that was
relayed to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
The occurrence pilot was a Sealand employee. The pilot held a commercial pilot license with a
class 3 instructor rating, and a valid category 1 medical. The pilot had approximately 511 hours
total documented flight time.
Video evidence showed that the aircraft took off without the pilot activating the aerodrome lighting.
After takeoff, the aircraft climbed on runway heading for approximately 35 seconds before turning
west. The aircraft then traveled 4.3 nautical miles (NM) west before it impacted terrain. A security
camera, located approximately 550 m from the crash site, recorded the sound of the aircraft engine
at high rpm, with engine sound increasing as the aircraft approached the ground. The audio
recording indicated the aircraft struck terrain at 0304:31 PST.
The aircraft wreckage was found approximately 4.5 NM WNW of CYCD near a public street and
several houses. Wreckage was consistent with a high energy impact, and the aircraft propeller
showed signs that it was producing power at the time the aircraft collided with terrain. The smell of
aviation fuel was noted at the site, and it was determined that the occurrence aircraft had been fully
fueled following its previous flight, the day before the occurrence. The investigation could not
establish control continuity due to the degree of damage suffered by the aircraft. The aircraft ELT
was found separated from the airframe at the crash site, with the ELT switch in the off position, but
it is not known when or how the switch came to be in that position.

....fairly obvious.

[PostmasterGeneral]

At least nobody else got hurt.

That’s pretty inconvenient for a small flight school like that, hopefully insurance also compensates them for the revenue lost while they procure another aircraft.

[Dry Guy]

....fairly obvious.

Circadian rhythms?

[pelmet]

....fairly obvious.

Circadian rhythms?

Obviously.

[cdnavater]

....fairly obvious.

Circadian rhythms?

I think it’s a good thing that nobody immediately came to a conclusion of suicide, obviously fatigue was not a factor, sad.

[shamrock104]

This is very sad, no one knows what was going on in this Pilot's life and it is unfortunate that they did not seek help. Glad no one on the ground was hurt.