Air transportation safety investigation A23P0130
Table of contents
Collision with terrain
SkyQuest Aviation Ltd.
Piper PA-34-200 Seneca
Chilliwack Airport (CYCW), British Columbia
The occurrence
On 06 October 2023, the SkyQuest Aviation Ltd. Piper PA-34-200 Seneca aircraft departed Langley Regional Airport, British Columbia (BC), on a training flight with 1 instructor, 1 student and 1 passenger on board.
After conducting some manoeuvring exercises and a circuit at Chilliwack Airport, BC, the aircraft initiated a missed approach exercise. During the manoeuvre, the airplane rolled to the right and continued to roll until it struck trees and terrain in a nose-down and inverted attitude.
All 3 occupants were fatally injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged and there was no post-impact fire. The TSB deployed investigators to the site and is investigating.
Media materials
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators following a small aircraft accident near Chilliwack, British Columbia
Richmond, British Columbia, 6 October 2023 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to Chilliwack, British Columbia, to investigate a small aircraft accident involving a Piper PA34. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence
Investigation information
Map showing the location of the occurrence
Investigator-in-charge
Todd Pezer joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in 2023 as a Senior Regional Investigator – Operations (Air) and works for the Pacific Region in Vancouver, British Columbia.
He holds a current airline transport pilot’s license and has accumulated over 4000 hours of flight time with experience in training, cargo, airline, and executive aircraft such as the B1900, Lear 75, and Citation X. Prior to joining the TSB, Mr. Pezer gained extensive training experience, earning numerous International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certifications and a master’s degree in learning and technology.
Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.