The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says a fatal plane crash near Fredericton last summer was “not survivable.”
Officials with the federal agency released their investigation report into the incident on Wednesday.
An ultralight aircraft nose-dived into a cornfield in Burtts Corner on the morning of July 19, 2024.
The plane was destroyed in the crash and the pilot, who was also the owner, died at the scene.
Officials said the pilot had departed Weyman Airpark for a “local visual flight rules” flight at around 10:40 a.m.
After 45 minutes of flying, the aircraft was seen circling at a height of less than 1,000 feet before nosediving into the cornfield.
“From the leading edge of the wings forward, the aircraft was crushed. The impact was not survivable,” said the report.
Investigators discovered that hardware attaching the control column bellcrank and the lower end of the aileron push tube assembly was missing.
A bolt with the same diameter and length was found in the wreckage, but investigators did not find the matching nut.
“There was no deformation present on either the bolt or the attach hole of the bellcrank, or damage to the aileron push tube rod end, indicating that the bolt likely fell out before the aircraft impacted the ground,” said the report.
Officials said the disconnected aileron push tube would have prevented aileron control, making it difficult to control the aircraft.
Basic ultralights are operated without a certificate of airworthiness, meaning design, construction and maintenance are not subject to any form of oversight by Transport Canada.
Given this, the board said it is important that owners understand they are responsible for ensuring their aircraft are built and maintained for continued safe flight.
