Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain crash, Jan 15, 1998, Rai...
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain accident on January 15, 1998 near Rainbow Lake, Alberta, Canada with no fatalities. Cause: Failure to maintain a...
- Date: January 15, 1998
- Aircraft: Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
- Location: Rainbow Lake, Alberta, Canada
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Failure to maintain a positive rate of climb after a night departure, with the crew focused on blue line speed, an overweight aircraft, a departure into rising terrain and crew resource management problems.
An Airco Aircraft Charters Piper Navajo Chieftain departed Rainbow Lake in darkness on an IFR flight to Edmonton and collided with trees and terrain about 3,000 feet beyond the runway end. All nine occupants received minor injuries and the aircraft was substantially damaged. Rescuers reached the site about 90 minutes after the accident.