Air transportation safety investigation A19P0002

The occurrence

On 3 January 2019, a WestJet Encore Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) aircraft (registration C-FSWE, serial number 4517), operating as flight 3109 (WEN3109), was conducting an instrument flight rules flight from Calgary International Airport, Alberta, to Nanaimo Airport, British Columbia. At about the same time, a privately registered Piaggio P.180 aircraft (registration N990RS, serial number 1015) operated by Rainbow Sandals Retail Incorporated, was conducting an instrument flight rules flight from Spokane International Airport, Washington, United States, to Kamloops Airport, British Columbia.

The Q400 was flying in a southwesterly direction from the northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia. The Piaggio was flying in a north-northwesterly direction from the south of Kelowna. Both aircraft were operating at flight level 220, and their flight paths would cross to the west of Kelowna.

At 1021:11 Pacific Standard Time, when the aircraft were west of Kelowna, a loss of separation occurred when the required vertical separation minimum of 1000 feet or lateral separation minimum of 5 nautical miles was not maintained. At that time, the aircraft were at the same altitude and less than 5 nautical miles from each other on converging tracks. At 1021:20, the Q400 flight crew received and responded to a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory to descend. At approximately the same time, the Piaggio P.180 received a traffic advisory. At 1021:49, there was 1000 feet of vertical separation and 0.9 nautical miles of lateral separation between the 2 aircraft. Both flights continued to their destinations without further incident.

Media materials

News release