Runway lights were on, snow was falling in plane crash that killed Brampton couple

The runway lights were on and it was snowing when theplane carrying a husband and wife from Brampton rapidly dropped from the sky and crashedinto the grass near a runway at the BrantfordMunicipal Airport.

It was around 1:19 a.m. Tuesday when the Piper Arrowhit the turf andskidded to the stop, according to Transportation Safety Board (TSB) spokesperson Chris Krepski.

"The aircraft was in a left bank with a high descent rate at the time of impact," he explained.

• Husband and wife dead after plane crash at Brantford airport

After two days examining the damaged plane, investigatorsknow that much, but are still working to determinewhat caused the crash that killedRonald Chamberlain, 76 and his wife Mildred, 81.

One of the pieces of possible evidencethey're examining is a series of more than 20 clicking sequencesthat could indicate the couple circled the air field for almost 40 minutes, trying to remotely turn on the runway lights before crashing in the dark and snow.

TSBinvestigating air traffic control audio

The clickingcan be heard among the static on archived air traffic control audio for the airport on the night of the crash starting around 12:40 a.m.and ending at 1:14 a.m. about five minutes before officials say the plane came down.

That timeframe seems to correspond with the account of anearby residentwho toldCBCNews he heard a low-flyingaircraft "circling and circling" the airport between 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. that night.

Based on the information we have been able to gather, the lights were on at the time of the crash.- ChrisKrepski, TSB

The repetitive series of four or five quick clicks are similar to the sounds a pilot would generate using the cockpit radio to remotely turn on the runway lights at a smaller, local airport.

A spokesperson for the City of Brantford said the airport is staffed from dawn until dusk. Outside of those hours, pilots have the ability tocontrol lights on airport's longest runway so they can safely land in the dark.

By pressing the push to talk switch on their radio a specific number of times [generally 3,5 or 7] within a certain time period, pilots can activate the lights and control their intensity, according to Krepski.

He added the TSB is aware of the audio recordings and will be "taking a closer look," although at this point officials don't know who was doing the clicking.

"It's too early to say what they mean, whether or not it was the aircraft in question that activated or another aircraft or ground station that activated them or there were multiple attempts to activate due to a malfunction in the system."

He added, "based on the information we have been able to gather, the lights were on at the time of the crash."

TheTSBhas quarantined the aircraftand plan to bring it to a facility in Richmond Hill for further examination.

"We're still getting information together aboutpilottraining and aircraft maintenance, more information aboutweatherand radar," saidKrepski.

A 'diligent pilot' who loved his plane

The crash has shaken the localflying community, especiallyat the Burlington airport, where Ronald Chamberlain kept his plane.

Tim Crawford, a pilot manages business for the airport, said he was "cross-taxiway neighbours" with Chamberlain and knew him since 1995.

"He loved flying and he was an accomplished pilot," he said. "Everyone in the airport community is just shaking their heads, trying to figure out what could have possibly happened to make things end up so tragically."

Crawford describes Chamberlain as a"diligent pilot" wholoved flying so much he'doften take his wife up just for fun.

The veteran pilot alsomade a name for himself at the airport as an active member ofthe Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) For Kids program. Chamberlain said they'd volunteer their time and take dozens of kids on flights.

"Everybody is struggling to deal with theloss."

Down on the tarmac, other pilots would sometimes gently tease Chamberlainby pronouncinghis plane's call signC-GDUM as Charlie, Golf, Dumb. But that plane was his pride and joy.

"It was immaculate," said Crawford."It was a fabulous airplane. That was his baby."

Brantford a popular stop

Now Crawford isstruggling to understand how such an experienced pilot could crash at a familiar airport.

Brantfordis home to a restaurant that makes ita popular place for area pilots to stop infor a bowl of soup or a burger, he explained. Chamberlain would probably have flown there "a thousand times."

Crawford has flown there himself on countless occasion and said he's even used the remote lights at night.

Tuesday night was cloudy, snowy and moonless. Crawford said he can't understand why Chamerblain would try to land there.

"No pilot would ever try to make an approach into an unlit airport. It's just notsomething people do," he said."Hamilton airport is literally 15 or 17 nautical miles away from Brantford. None of it makes any sense to me as a pilot."