PEACHLAND — A fatal plane crash that took place more than a year ago near the Okanagan Connector may have been caused when the pilot’s vision was affected by the sun’s glare.
The de Havilland float plane crashed into a mountainside near Brenda Mines on May 13, 2012. The pilot and two passengers died instantly. Most the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
An investigation by the Transportation Safety Board indicated there was no sign of mechanical malfunction, no drastic changes in the flight path, and no emergency calls from the pilot.
It appeared the plane was always under control of the pilot. Because the plane was heading directly towards the sun, investigators believe the pilot’s vision was affected by glare and that he didn’t see the tree tops until they hit the plane.
Similar plane crashes have happened in the same, so Transport Canada wants to reduce the risk of collisions with terrain in the future. It plans to introduce a new preferred route over the mountain on aviation charts.
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