What happened
On the morning of April 13, 2015, a Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II, registered as C-GSKC, departed from Vancouver International Airport (CYVR) bound for Prince George, British Columbia. The aircraft, operated by Carson Air Ltd., was conducting an instrument flight rules operation with two pilots on board.
Shortly after 07:09 Pacific Daylight Time, roughly six minutes into the flight, the aircraft vanished from radar tracking. At the time of disappearance, the plane was climbing through 8,700 feet above sea level in conditions characterized by low clouds and heavy snow. The aircraft was positioned approximately 4 nautical miles north of the North Vancouver urban area.
Search efforts were significantly obstructed by severe weather, including heavy snowfall and low visibility. Later that afternoon, ground search teams located the wreckage on steep, snow-covered mountain terrain. The impact resulted in a catastrophic in-flight breakup, leaving the aircraft destroyed and causing two fatalities.
The investigation
Investigators focused on the sudden loss of the aircraft from radar and the physical state of the wreckage. While the aircraft's 406-megahertz emergency locator transmitter did activate following the crash, the antenna sustained damage during the event. Consequently, no distress signal was captured by the Cospas Sarsat satellite system.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the TSB issued recommendation A17-02, calling on the Department of Transport to work with the aviation industry and employees to establish a comprehensive substance abuse program. This initiative aims to implement drug and alcohol testing protocols to mitigate the risk of impairment for individuals performing safety-sensitive duties, while balancing public safety with human rights principles.