Accident Overview
On August 14, a Cessna 208 Caravan I (registration C-GMPB, serial number 20800082) operating on amphibious floats crashed into Teslin Lake in British Columbia. The aircraft was destroyed, and both occupants—the pilot and a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) engineer—sustained fatal injuries. The accident occurred at approximately 2357 Pacific daylight time during hours of darkness.
Flight History
The aircraft had departed from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, earlier that day at 1216 on a visual flight rules flight plan with stops in Dease Lake, Teslin, and Whitehorse. It arrived in Teslin at 1542 and was reconfigured to transport three RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) members, two dogs, and equipment. At 1622, it departed for the south end of Teslin Lake, landing at 1645. After unloading passengers and gear, the aircraft was pushed off the gravel bar, but during taxi, it became beached. Efforts to free the aircraft over the next six hours included digging, reverse thrust, and assistance from ERT members and additional RCMP personnel arriving by boat. The aircraft was successfully dislodged at about 2320.
Despite offers of shelter and food, the pilot decided to fly back to Teslin at night, accompanied by the engineer. At 2350, the pilot started the aircraft and taxied for takeoff. The takeoff was conducted downwind in a northerly direction. Witnesses in an RCMP boat flashed lights when the aircraft approached; the aircraft altered course, passed overhead at about 100 feet, then entered a steep climb. At the top of the climb, it stalled, yawed left, descended, and struck the water in a near-vertical attitude.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft was certified, equipped, and maintained in accordance with regulations. Weight and center of gravity were within limits, and no mechanical issues were found before impact. The pilot held a valid airline transport pilot license with 3,768 total flying hours, including 282 hours on type. The pilot had about 188 hours of night flying experience, but no recorded night flight on the Caravan. The pilot was certified but not qualified for night operations. The pilot was wearing a seat belt but not a shoulder harness; the passenger wore both. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data or cockpit voice recorder.
Weather Conditions
The terminal aerodrome forecast for Teslin, issued at 1253, indicated wind from 220° magnetic at 10 knots, visibility 6 statute miles in light rain, with broken clouds at 4,000 feet. The last routine weather report at 1800 showed wind from 200° at 8 knots, visibility 20 miles in light rain, and scattered clouds at 3,600 feet. At the accident site, ERT members reported overcast at about 2,000 feet, intermittent light rain, and wind from the south at 5 to 10 mph. Sunset was at 2141, with civil twilight ending at 2232.
Post-Accident Considerations
The emergency locator transmitter did not activate and was not recovered. The RCMP boat responded immediately, observing the aft fuselage and empennage sinking and the liferaft deploying. Due to the impact forces, the accident was not survivable. The RCMP Air Services Branch lacked a formalized safety management program and had eliminated dedicated safety and training officer positions. There were no standard operating procedures or additional guidelines for night float operations. The pilot had been on duty about 16 hours before the accident; autopsy and toxicology found no physiological impairment.