Image: October 6, 2023 plane crash near Chilliwack airport / Jo Charlie
Three killed

Chilliwack fatal plane crash investigation reveals details leading to the crash

Dec 24, 2023 | 6:00 AM

CHILLIWACK — The investigation into a deadly airplane crash near the Chilliwack airport in the fall, is continuing by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB).

The October 6 crash claimed the lives of three people, a flight instructor, a student and a passenger. According to investigators, the SkyQuest Aviation Piper PA34 Seneca departed from the Langley Regional Airport and was on a training flight when it went down.

Preliminary results of the investigation revealed the plane was conducting manoeuvring exercises at the Chilliwack Airport. It had begun a missing approach exercise when things went wrong. During the manoeuvre the airplane rolled to the right and continued to roll until it struck trees and went into the ground nose first and upside down.

The crash site was just behind the Chilliwack Motor Inn on Young Road, about a block and a half south of the Chilliwack Airport.

The investigation is in the second of three phases. The examination and analysis phase includes a review of all records, including maintenance records of the aircraft. Key components of the aircraft are examined and tested as part of the second phase.

The TSB investigation is expected to take nearly 15 months to complete. At its conclusion, a full report will be made public and any safety deficiencies will be identified.

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