Penticton | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While flying at low altitude over mountainous terrain, the pilot entered a canyon and was approaching a mountain pass when he elected to gain height. Unable to outclimb the rising terrain, the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Stevens Pass, in the Cascade Mountain Range. The wreckage was found few hours later and all seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees due to improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Misjudged distance, speed and altitude,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft, weight and CofG.,
- High obstructions,
- Exceeded gross weight and aft CofG.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK near Penticton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1950 at 1353 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CF-CUF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Vancouver – Penticton

MSN:

12855

YOM:

1944

Flight number:

CP004

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Penticton was started in marginal weather conditions when the aircraft hit several trees. While contacting trees, the left wing was sheared off, the aircraft rotated to the left and crashed in a snow covered and wooded area located on the Mt Okanagan, about 27 km north of the Penticton Airport. Sixteen occupants were evacuated, some of them were injured. Unfortunately, both pilots were killed in the accident.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to fly below the minimum safe altitude of 6,500 feet fixed to clear the Mt Okanagan. The aircraft struck Okanagan Mountain as a result of being below the minimum altitude permissible when passing through the Greata fan marker during an instrument approach procedure on the Penticton Radio Range.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Stranrear on Mt Baldwin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1941 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Canadian Vickers Stranraer

Operator:

Registration:

946

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Dartmouth – Penticton – Patricia Bay

MSN:

CV-225

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to Patricia Bay, British Columbia, with an intermediate stop in Penticton. The seaplane departed Penticton seaplane base at 1026LT. Few minutes after his departure, the radio operator informed ground about his ETA in Patricia Bay at 1300LT. At 1400LT, the crew changed his frequency and informed ground about his position north of Vancouver, flying in very bad weather conditions with snow falls. As the airplane failed to arrive in Patricia Bay, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Six years later, walkers found the wreckage on Mt Baldwin (1,427 metres high) located 10 km southeast of Squamish. It appears that the aircraft hit the mountain 10 metres below the summit. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (5th Squadron):
P/O Gerald Searing Palmer, pilot,
Sgt Jack Fenton Bliss,
Cpl John Robert Bruce Fernie,
LAC Gilbert Fowler Willette,
LAC Charles Murray Ross.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot got lost while cruising on instruments and in heavy static.

Final Report: