By Charles Lefebvre

Transportation Safety Board unable to determine cause of plane crash that killed Jim Prentice

Apr 26, 2018 | 11:51 AM

CALGARY, AB — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released its report into the 2016 plane crash which killed four people, including former Premier Jim Prentice.

The board is recommending the mandatory installation of lightweight flight recording systems by all commercial and private business operators not currently required to carry them, and are also concerned about Transport Canada’s reactive approach to oversight of private business aircraft operations.

The crash involved a Cessna Citation 500 which took off from Kelowna on the night of October 13. The plane was en route to Calgary, when it crashed shortly after takeoff. According to the report, the plane lost control, entered a steep descending turn to the right until it hit the ground. No emergency call was made.

The plane was privately operated by Norjet Inc.

There was no flight recording system on the flight, so the TSB were unable to determine what caused the crash. The board believes the pilot was likely dealing with high workload due to flying the plane alone and experienced spatial disorientation, causing him to leave the flight path.

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The investigation also determined the pilot did not have the recent night flying experience required by Transport Canada for carrying passengers at night.

The board was also concerned about how Transport Canada conducts oversight of private business aviation in Canada. During the investigation, the board found no record Norjet had ever been inspected by Transport Canada, meaning the organization was unaware of safety deficiencies in flight operations.

Since the crash, Transport Canada will conducted targeted inspections of private business operators starting this month. 

The full report can be read here.