Wednesday the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report into the September 2024 fatal plane crash near Lloydminster.
The TSB determined weather was not a factor; there was a clear sky, and it was 28 degrees Celsius that day. The pilot and their passenger were using appropriate safety belts and mechanical failure involving the plane is not believed to be a factor when the plane stalled after making a 190-degree turn to allow the passenger to take additional photos. As well the stall warning system was functioning appropriately.
TSB estimates that after making the right turn the plane climbed to 200 to 300 feet and stalled. The Cessna was operated by KBM Forestry Consults and flew out of Kindersley for an aerial power line inspection in the area southeast of Lloydminster’s Airport.
The Transportation Safety Board concluded that “when required to conduct steep turns at low height, pilots need to be cautious given that there may be insufficient height to recover from an inadvertent stall.”
The pilot received fatal injuries. The observer received serious injuries and died 3 days later. The aircraft was destroyed but never caught fire. And the TSB report states that the crew’s performance was not impacted by medical or physiological factors.
The pilot had been working for KBM Forestry Consults since April 2024. He had 583 hours total flight time, of which 323 hours were on the Cessna 206 series aircraft. The observer had been with the air operator since July 2022 and 314 hours total flight time, of which 115 hours were on the same type of aircraft.
Several actions were implemented by KBM including:
The pilot-in-command (PIC) must have a minimum of 750 hours of flight experience and a minimum of 50 hours on a similar aircraft type. The experience requirement may be reduced to 500 hours at the discretion of the chief pilot for individuals with sufficient relevant low-level flight experience.
The PIC must have completed KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. low-level ground and flight training.
The PIC and observer must wear properly fitted and maintained flight helmets.
The PIC and observer must wear Nomex fire-retardant flight suits.
KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. also expanded its low-level flight training program to include added emphasis on:
– Stall recovery
– Drift illusions
– Emergency procedures in the low altitude environment
