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Kamsack-area plane crash a mystery
Last Updated: Thursday, December 2, 2010 | 4:43 PM CST Comments0Recommend4
CBC News

The investigation into a fiery plane crash near Kamsack, Sask., that claimed the life of a Saskatoon eye surgeon determines the cause is unknown.

The crash happened July 19, 2009. The plane, a four-seater Piper Malibu crashed shortly after takeoff at the Kamsack airport and burst into flames.

Jim Underhill, 50, the eye doctor and pilot, died in the crash. One of his passengers, Peter Kontogiannopoulos, 63, also died at the scene.

Two other passengers, men aged 30 and 54, survived but required medical attention in hospital.

The crash was investigated by the Transportation Safety Board, which reported it could not determine a clear cause.

Investigator Peter Hildebrand told CBC News Thursday that Underhill was an accomplished pilot.

"He had a reputation of being careful, cautious, conscientious and competent," Hildebrand said. "He undertook regular training and, from everything that we can determine, was the kind of pilot that would undertake a safe flight. And that's another thing that makes it baffling that something like this would occur so suddenly after takeoff."

Hildebrand said the aircraft inexplicably rolled to the left just after takeoff.

Investigators, he added, could not find any mechanical issues.

The plane's manufacturer had issued a service bulletin concerning lubricating the flight control cable systems. But the bulletin was a guideline and not an order.

Service records for the plane showed no reported defects.

Kamsack is about 270 kilometres northeast of Regina.
(With files from The Canadian Press)


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