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The pilot of a privately registered Cessna 172N caused what can only be described as utter chaos in the sky above, and on the ground, at Pitt Meadows Regional Airport (CYPK) last July 4. The 172 was inbound from nearby Langley Regional Airport (CYNJ), just 7.2 nm to the south. After contacting CYPK’s tower, the pilot was instructed to turn final for 26L. What transpired next was a test of mettle for any air traffic controller. Below is the CADORS report, which categorized the incident as “(Near) mid-air collisions”, among other categories:
“A privately registered Cessna from CYNJ to CYPK flew through the approach instead of turning final for Runway 26L and cut off a Canadian Aviation College Cessna (C-GOWH) from CYPK to CYPK approaching Runway 26R. When instructed to turn back to Runway 26L, the privately registered aircraft turned southbound and cut-off a Vancouver Aviation College Inc. Cessna (C-GHXI) from CYPK to CYPK on the left downwind. When instructed to turn direct to the airport, the privately registered aircraft flew northbound and cut off a Montair Aviation Inc. Cessna (C-GMAW) from CYPK to CYPK on final for Runway 26L. A Pacific Rim Aviation Academy Inc. Cessna (C-GREI) did not turn base when instructed and had to leave the control zone to avoid the privately registered Cessna’s unexpected turns. C-GMAW did not comply with repeated instructions to turn northbound to avoid the privately registered Cessna. Several departing aircraft were delayed on the ground, including a C-GHXI and C-GFYI. They were given orbits on downwind, and six aircraft were kept out of the control zone until the non-compliant aircraft were sorted. The privately registered Cessna departed to CYNJ and C-GMAW landed at CYPK.”
Obviously, the failure of the pilot of Montair’s C-GMAW, one of the aircraft cut off, to follow repeated ATC instructions only exasperated the situation.
Pitt Meadows airport, with just under 150,000 aircraft movements in 2023, is the 7th busiest in Canada, ahead of Ontario’s Waterloo airport (CYKF) at just under 141,000 movements. Most of CYPK’s traffic is generated by flight training activities.