Flight and Circumstances
At 0708 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-21A amphibian, registration C-GPCD (serial number B76), operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines, departed Port Hardy Airport, British Columbia, on a visual flight rules charter flight to Chamiss Bay, British Columbia. The flight was one of a series transporting personnel for a logging company. The aircraft carried a single pilot and six passengers.
Accident Sequence
The flight took a direct route toward Chamiss Bay. At about 0722, the aircraft collided with terrain on a hillside near Alice Lake, approximately 14 nautical miles from Port Hardy. A post-crash fire ensued. The emergency locator transmitter was destroyed and did not transmit. The flight follower attempted to contact the aircraft at 0849 and 0908 but was unsuccessful, leading to an overdue report at 0953 and initiation of an aerial search. A search and rescue aircraft located the wreckage. Two survivors were evacuated from the site at approximately 1610.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured, one passenger suffered serious injuries, and one suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was consumed by fire after the crash.
Probable Cause
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined that while likely climbing to fly above a cloud-covered ridge and below the overcast ceiling, the aircraft stalled aerodynamically at a height from which full recovery could not be made before striking the trees.
Contributing Factors
Contributing to the accident were the company's communications procedures, which, while meeting regulatory requirements, were not effective in ascertaining the aircraft's position and flight progress, delaying search and rescue action. Additionally, the emergency locator transmitter was destroyed on impact, hindering location efforts and prolonging the survivors' wait for rescue.
Aftermath and Safety Actions
Following the accident, Pacific Coastal Airlines conducted flight tests to verify stall characteristics and single-engine performance, leading to revisions in the G-21A operating manual and standard operating procedures. The company also implemented VFR line checks, revised its safety management system, and contracted for tailored pilot decision-making training for its floatplane pilots. The Transportation Safety Board issued a safety advisory suggesting amendments to flight following requirements, and the company installed a GPS-linked satellite tracking system on its floatplanes.