Reduced visibility due to deteriorating weather caused a fatal plane crash near Faro in 2017, the Yukon Coroner’s Office has concluded.

The office has released its report into the death of Justin Seath Kolla, who had been piloting the plane when it crashed in the Mount Menzi area.

Chief coroner Heather Jones concluded that the 31-year-old pilot’s crash was caused by deminished visibility due to poor weather.

The conditions resulted in Kolla becoming disoriented, the corner reported. This occurred when Kolla flew into clouds and lost sight of the ground.

Jones concluded the evidence shows that the aircraft crashed into the ground at cruise settings. To her, this suggests the pilot was in a state of disorientation.

Kolla was flying a model Champion 7GCBC Citabria at the time. He was the sole occupant of the single-engine aircraft.

He left Whitehorse at around 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2017, with another pilot flying another aircraft.

They were going on a three-day hunting trip to Russell Creek, which is 64 kilometres north of Faro.

The pair was planning to fly directly to Russell Creek, but the weather forced them to divert. They flew along a more western route, taking them over lower terrain.

The other pilot lost contact with Kolla’s aircraft at 1:20 p.m. The second pilot searched for Kolla upon landing at Russell Creek.

The crashed aircraft was found near Mount Menzi at 2:30 p.m.

The RCMP were called at 4 p.m. Police located the wreckage by helicopter near Mount Menzi, which is 51 kilometres north of Faro.

Kolla was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was performed on Sept. 7, 2017 by Dr. Matthew Orde at Vancouver General Hospital.

He concluded that Kolla’s death was caused by several blunt-force injuries. Orde determined that death would have been immediate.

Toxicology tests were also performed, turning up negative for both alcohol and drugs.

Jones ruled the death as accidental.

Transport Canada’s Aeronautical Information Manual describes pilot disorientation as not knowing which way is up, Jones noted in her report. This can also be described as vertigo.

According to the manual, when experiencing such disorientation, pilots become dependent on their flight instruments and their skills to keep control of the plane.

The manual does not recommend that pilots use their senses alone to orientate themselves when flying in this state.