Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Klemtu: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1993 at 1001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FRQW
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bella - Klemtu
MSN:
618
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
3V801
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Klemtu, while completing a last turn to the left, the single engine aircraft struck a tree and crashed, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot misjudged the distance with the ground and was probably hampered by the presence of local fog banks that were along the shore.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Eucott Bay: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1993 at 1325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FPQB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
166
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Eucott Bay, BC, while climbing to a height of about 300 feet, the pilot initiated a turn to the left to perform a 180 circuit to leave the valley, a standard procedure for the area. While turning, despite power was added and the aircraft was climbing, it descended to the left then stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 450 metres west of the point of departure, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the loss of control was caused by downdrafts was not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL in Bronson Creek: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1993 at 0830 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-FAAM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bronson Creek - Wrangell
MSN:
9862
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bronson Creek, while climbing to a height of 800 feet, the crew initiate a left turn when the left wing rolled to an angle of 30°. The aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed. The aircraft was carrying a load of gold.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft stalled because its speed was too low while completing a turn to the left.

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S off Nanaimo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FRVR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nanaimo - Port Mellon
MSN:
6148
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The float equipped Beechcraft C18S was chartered to carry eight workers from Nanaimo to Port Mellon. After takeoff from the Nanaimo-Cassidy seaplane base, the pilot encountered difficulties to gain height. In poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft continued at a height of about 16 metres and rolled left and right. The aircraft entered a 30° left turn, causing the left wing tip to struck the water surface. The aircraft cartwheeled, crashed, exploded and sank. Quickly on the scene, in the Strait of Georgia, fishermen were able to rescue two passengers who were seriously injured (burned) while seven other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft suffered atmospheric turbulences after takeoff in poor weather conditions. The pilot was unable to gain sufficient height because of atmospheric turbulences and unfavorable currents. The aircraft was operated within limits while the pilot's experience was limited.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver off Compton Island

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GAQX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1362
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea off Compton Island. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Marquise in Campbell River: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N321ST
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Campbell River - Bellingham
MSN:
307
YOM:
1974
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 29 at Campbell River Airport, while climbing to a height of about 200 feet, the twin engine aircraft initiated a right turn then lost altitude. The right wing struck trees and the aircraft crashed 100 metres further, some 1,350 metres past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. It was reported that the pilot encountered engine problems prior to departure from Campbell River. When the right engine was started, witnesses heard a rumbling sound and the pilot shut the engine down. Shortly later, both engines were started again and the pilot taxied for departure. A first takeoff procedure was rejected and the pilot returned to the ramp to proceed tests on engine and propeller governors for about 18 minutes. During this time, it was observed that the right propeller stopped at least once while the left engine was running normally.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Cameron Lake

Date & Time: May 8, 1991 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FQRI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vancouver – Tofino
MSN:
326
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was supposed to proceed under VFR mode to the west but as weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds, he decided to continue to the south. While flying between two mountains, the single engine aircraft encountered atmospheric turbulences and the pilot elected to return when the aircraft lost height and struck trees. Upon impact, both wings were torn off and the aircraft crashed in a wooded area. All 11 occupants were injured, four of them seriously.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in Squamish: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GHAV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1043
YOM:
1939
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Squamish Airport, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances on a railway road. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Thutade Lake: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1991 at 1340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-FQNF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sturdee Valley – Smithers
MSN:
15198/26643
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Sturdee Valley to Smithers on behalf of a mine company. While flying at low height above Thutade Lake in poor weather conditions, a wing struck the iced surface of the lake and the aircraft crashed. A passenger was rescued while six other occupants were killed. It is understood that the crew was flying under VFR mode in heavy snow conditions when the accident occurred.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Terrace: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1990 at 1400 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GKIY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Terrace – Iskut – Dease Lake – Bronson Creek – Terrace
MSN:
31-7852004
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
700
Aircraft flight hours:
5520
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a scheduled visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Terrace to Iskut to Dease Lake to Bronson Creek and back to Terrace, British Columbia. The aircraft departed Terrace about 1005 Pacific standard time (PST) and arrived Iskut about 1145, departed Iskut about 1155 and arrived Dease Lake about 1230, and departed Dease Lake about 1250 and arrived Bronson Creek about 1340. All of these flights were completed without incident, and the aircraft departed Bronson Creek for Terrace at about 1350 with the pilot and three passengers on board. Ten minutes later, the pilot spoke on the radio to a pilot who was flying from Smithers to Bronson Creek when the two aircraft passed each other approximately 20 miles east of Bronson Creek. This was in the Iskut River valley just east of the confluence of the Forest Kerr River and the Iskut River. This was the last reported contact with the aircraft, and the pilot did not report a problem at that time. An air and ground search was started after the aircraft was reported missing, but the aircraft was not found and the search was abandoned. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was detected. The wreckage was found by chance on 05 August 1994, nearly four years after the accident.
Probable cause:
The pilot likely attempted to continue the visual flight into an area of instrument meteorological conditions.
Final Report: