What happened
On a morning charter flight from Port Hardy Airport, British Columbia, a Grumman G-21A amphibian, registered C-GPCD, was en route to Chamiss Bay. The flight, operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines, was intended to transport personnel for a logging company under visual flight rules.
As the aircraft approached higher terrain, the pilot encountered more extensive cloud coverage than initially anticipated. Attempting to navigate between the cloud tops and the overcast ceiling, the pilot initiated a climb. During this maneuver, the aircraft reached a stall angle, causing the left wing to drop. Although the pilot attempted a recovery, the aircraft struck treetops and crashed on a hillside near Alice Lake. The impact caused the aircraft to break apart, and a post-crash fire ignited.
Of the seven people on board, the pilot and four passengers were fatally injured, while one passenger sustained serious injuries and another suffered minor injuries. The emergency locator transmitter was destroyed during the impact and failed to signal, which delayed the arrival of search and rescue teams.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's performance, the pilot's decision-making, the weather conditions, and the effectiveness of the company's flight following procedures. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure or engine malfunction prior to the accident.
Regarding flight monitoring, the investigation noted that the company's flight watch facility had attempted to contact the aircraft but was unsuccessful. Because it was common for pilots to be out of radio range or to land unexpectedly to wait for better weather, the flight follower did not report the aircraft as overdue until approximately one hour after its expected arrival. This delay in notifying the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre hindered the initial search efforts.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall at an altitude that prevented a successful recovery before striking trees.
- The destruction of the ELT upon impact prevented immediate notification of the aircraft's location.
- The company's existing flight following infrastructure and communication protocols were insufficient to accurately track the aircraft's progress, leading to delayed rescue operations.
Safety action
Following the accident, the TSB issued a safety advisory recommending that Transport Canada consider amending flight following requirements to encourage the use of GPS-linked satellite tracking systems. In response, Pacific Coastal Airlines implemented a satellite-based tracking system on all its floatplanes and updated its operating manuals and pilot training programs, specifically focusing on stall characteristics and decision-making for single-pilot operations.