LLOYDMINSTER — A Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) report released on Jan. 7 determined that a Cessna U206F conducting low-level power line inspection flight crashed southeast of the Lloydminster airport after entering an aerodynamic stall, resulting in two fatalities.
On Sept. 8, 2024, the aircraft, operated by KBM Forestry Consultants Inc., was performing an aerial photography survey along a planned power line route when onboard cameras recorded the final manoeuvres before impact. According to investigators, the pilot initiated a tight right turn at approximately 200 to 300 feet above ground level to reposition the aircraft, during which the load factor increased, and the stall speed rose.
“Three seconds after the stall began, the aircraft impacted terrain,” reads the report.
Video evidence showed increased elevator input during the turn, which raised the aircraft’s load factor and corresponding stall speed. The Cessna, travelling at an estimated 86 to 92 mph calibrated airspeed, entered an accelerated stall and descended at a rate of at least 3,000 feet per minute.
The pilot died at the scene. The passenger, who was secured in a rear-facing seat with a five-point harness, sustained serious injuries and died three days later.
Investigators found no mechanical issues with the aircraft, and weather conditions weren’t considered a factor. The aircraft was within weight and balance limits, and the stall warning system was functional.
The TSB said that low-level aerial survey flights often require 180-degree or greater turns to re-photograph or realign with power lines, which increases stall risk when altitude margins are limited. The TSB said that steep turns at low height may not provide sufficient altitude for stall recovery.
“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 report said.
Following the plane crash, KBM Forestry Consultants implemented new operational requirements, including high minimum flight experience for pilots, mandatory low-level training, and the use of flight helmets and fire-retardant suits. The company also expanded training on stall recovery, drift illusions, and low-altitude emergency procedures, according to the report.
The TSB doesn’t assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.
