About one hour later, during a practice forced approach conducted west of Harrison Lake, the aircraft struck the ground and was destroyed. There was no fire. The two front seat occupants were seriously injured, and the rear seat occupant received minor injuries. An emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was reported about three hours after the accident, and the aircraft was located about 24 NM north-northwest of Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. All three occupants were evacuated from the site by helicopter.

Findings as to causes and contributing factors

1. The instructor did not brief the student on forced approach procedures and allowed the student to continue the forced approach to a height from which the aircraft could not avoid rising terrain.
    
2. The aircraft was near gross weight, which, combined with the effects of altitude, outside air temperature, and aggressive manoeuvring, degraded the aircraft’s ability to out-climb the terrain.

Other findings

1. Shadows and lack of visual cues, such as trees, in the area of the forced approach may have adversely affected the pilot’s ability to estimate the aircraft’s height above ground.
    
2. The risk of a fuel-fed post-crash fire was significant; ejection of the aircraft’s battery eliminated one potential ignition source.

Safety action taken

As a result of this accident, the flight school has made the following changes:

1. Aircraft will no longer be dispatched into the mountains in the evening;
    
2. Safe flying limits for mountainous terrain have been established.