What happened
On August 1, 2018, a Cessna 180H operated by Fort Langley Air was performing a local flight departing from Tyaughton Lake, British Columbia. The aircraft was carrying three people at the time of the accident. During the initial climb following takeoff, the instructor pilot, who was seated in the rear of the cabin, noticed fuel leaking from the left wing.
Upon discovering the leak, the instructor directed the pilot to execute a right turn to return to the lake for an emergency landing. As the pilot began the maneuver and reduced airspeed, the aircraft lost control and struck the water. The accident resulted in two fatalities and one serious injury.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the accident. During the process, it was noted that the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter failed to send out a signal following the impact.