TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 2 October 2024.
Controlled flight into terrain
Privately registered
Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-32R-301 (Saratoga SP), C-FCCY
Calgary/Springbank Airport (CYBW), Alberta, 30 NM WSW
The occurrence
On 28 July 2023, a Piper PA-32R was conducting a visual flight rules flight from Springbank Airport (CYBW), Alberta to Salmon Arm (CZAM), British Columbia with one pilot and five passengers on board. The aircraft was reported overdue late in the evening. An emergency locator transmitter signal was heard by an overflying aircraft in the vicinity of Bow Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis, Alberta. Search and rescue located the aircraft on the east slope of Mount McGillivray, Alberta on the morning of 29 July.
All six occupants were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed; there was a post impact fire.
Media materials
Investigation information
A23W0091
Controlled flight into terrain
Privately registered
Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-32R-301 (Saratoga SP), C-FCCY
Calgary/Springbank Airport (CYBW), Alberta, 30 NM WSW
Investigator-in-charge
Jeremy Warkentin joined the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) in 2017 as a Regional Senior Technical Investigator, in the Aviation Investigations Branch, at the regional office in Edmonton, Alberta.
Mr. Warkentin is a graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) program and has more than 20 years of aviation experience working for several fixed wing operations as a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Quality Assurance Manager and Base/Production Manager. He holds both an M1 and M2 license, and has experience on aircraft ranging in size from the Cessna 152 to the Airbus A321.
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Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 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.