Piper PA-31 accident near Calgary, Ca, August 1, 2018
On August 1, 2018 at about 7:36 pm local time, a Piper PA-31, registered CFNCI, was involved in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Calgary. It was flown under rules the NTSB did not record. 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2018 · about 7:36 pm local time
- Place
- Calgary, Canada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 Undesignat · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- CFNCI · no longer on the register · serial 31-8112007
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · rules the NTSB did not record
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 1, 2018, at 1336 mountain daylight time, a Canadian registered Piper PA-31, C-FNCI, operated by Aries Aviation Services Corp., was substantially damaged after impacting terrain under unknown circumstances 35 miles southwest of Calgary, Canada. The pilot, and sole passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from Penticton Regional Airport (CYYF), British Columbia, and was destined for Calgary Springbank Airport (CYBY), Alberta. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Canadian Transportation Safety Board. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Canadian government. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre, 4th Floor Hull, Quebec K1A 1K8 Canada Website: http://www.tsb.gc.ca
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (cruise) defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 6,499 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
- Operator: Aries Aviation Services Corp.
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.