TSB: 2009 plane crash in Richmond caused by wake turbulence

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it was wake turbulence that made a small plane crash into an industrial area in Richmond two years ago, killing both pilots on board.

Bill Yearwood with the TSB says wake turbulence is like a small tornado that comes off the wings behind a plane.

He says two bigger Air Canada planes were flying in front of the smaller double-engine Piper Navajo that got caught up in their wake turbulence and nose dived.

Now Yearwood is questioning whether it should be left up to the pilot to determine how much distance there should be between his plane and the plane in front of him.

“That works reasonably well during day-time operation. In times of darkness, the human is not able to do that.”

Both pilots were in their 20’s and from the Lower Mainland.

The report also indicates pilot fatigue may have been factor. 

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