British Columbia

The crew departed Comox Airbase on a training flight to Williams Lake. While cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the seaplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 10 miles east of Hope Slide. The aircraft was destroyed and while the f/o Bob Reid survived, all five other occupants were killed. More info on https://www.notaries.bc.ca/resources/scrivener/fall2004/walkdownthemountains-50.pdf
1st Lt Pete Semak, †
1st Lt Phil Montgomery, †
F/O Chris Cormier, †
F/O Bob Reid,
Lac Bob MacNaughton. †
Passenger:
James Braiden. †

Few minutes after takeoff from Vancouver seaplane base, weather conditions worsened with snow showers and the crew decided to return to his departure point. While cruising in poor visibility, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that crashed while approaching Vancouver. A passenger was seriously injured while nine other occupants were killed.

Flight 21 was a scheduled domestic flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory via Prince George, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson in British Columbia and Watson Lake, Yukon Territory. At 1442 hours PST, the aircraft took off on an instrument flight plan for Prince George, via Victor 300 and Blue 22 airways. In the vicinity of Hope, north-bound on Blue 22 airway, it was sighted by CPA Flight 22 and communication was established. Shortly afterwards at 1517 hours Flight 21 requested and received clearance to proceed from its position north of Hope direct to Williams Lake, which track would pass to the west of Ashcroft. At 1529 hours, it reported to the Vancouver Air Traffic Control Centre that it had passed Ashcroft at 1527 hours at 16 000 ft and was estimating William Lake at 1548 hours. This transmission was acknowledged by the Vancouver Centre. At 1538 hours, Vancouver Centre called Flight 21 and did not receive a reply. About two minutes later, three "mayday" calls were heard by Vancouver Centre. At approximately the same time a four-engined aircraft, subsequently identified as Flight 21, was observed by witnesses flying in the clear over the Gustafson Lake area about 20 miles west of 100 Mile House, B.C. The aircraft appeared to be in normal flight when an explosion was heard, following which smoke was observed and the tail separated from the fuselage. The main portion of the wreckage assumed a nose down attitude and spiraled to the left until it crashed into a wooded area about 4.5 miles north of Gustafson Lake. The accident occurred at 1541 hours. There were no survivors among the 52 occupants.

After takeoff from Fenton Lake, while completing a local on-demand flight, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the lake. A passenger died instantly while the pilot and a second passenger were able to swim to shore. Awaiting rescue, the pilot died from his injuries while the second passenger was later recovered and transferred to a local hospital.

The SCAN-30 Pace Gannet version crashed in unknown circumstances into the Wasi Lake. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

While taking off from Arrow Lake, the single engine aircraft hit floating objects, overturned and came to rest upside down off Nakusp. All six occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While landing off Thompson Sound, the seaplane lost a flot, crashed and sank. Both occupants were killed.

The aircraft was carrying a passenger and a pilot on behalf of the British Columbia Department of Public Works who should make a view of a bridge located at Sooke before returning to Patricia Bay. Shortly after takeoff the aircraft climbed steeply to about 50 feet slowly veering and rolling to the left in a nose high attitude until it stalled and crashed in flames in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed. It is believed the pilot was inexperienced.

On landing at Mellish Point, the seaplane lost a float and went out of control. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

While descending to Port Hardy, a fire erupted in the cabin. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and while there were no injuries, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.