What happened
At approximately 0831 PST, two aircraft were conducting scheduled flights from Vancouver to Campbell River, British Columbia. The first, a Shorts SD-3-60 (C-GPCJ) operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines, was flying under visual flight rules (VFR). The second, a Beechcraft 1900D (C-FCMR) operated by Central Mountain Air, was operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) on a straight-in approach to Runway 29.
As the Shorts SD-3-60 approached the shoreline, the crew encountered weather conditions that had dropped below VFR minimums. To avoid flying into instrument conditions, the pilot aborted the visual approach by performing a left turn and climbing to the east. Simultaneously, the Beechcraft 1900D received a resolution advisory (RA) from its onboard traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS). This prompted the crew to execute a missed approach with a leftward avoidance maneuver. Both aircraft subsequently climbed in opposite directions and landed at Campbell River without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight operations, weather reporting, and communication protocols. It was noted that while the Shorts SD-3-60 was operating under VFR, it did not have a TCAS installed, whereas the Beechcraft 1900D was equipped with the system.
Investigators reviewed the weather observations from the Campbell River Flight Service Station (FSS). While the 0800 report indicated sufficient visibility and ceiling for VFR, conditions were rapidly changing. A special weather observation was being prepared at the time of the incident, which would have shown the ceiling had dropped to 800 feet.
Furthermore, the investigation looked into the communications provided by the Shorts SD-3-60 crew. The aircraft's inbound report to the FSS was found to be delayed and incomplete, lacking critical altitude and estimated time of arrival (ETA) information. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's actual flight path did not align with its reported arrival procedure.