What happened
On 20 September 2023, a De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver operated by Sealand Aviation Ltd. was performing a local flight departing from Campbell River Airport, British Columbia. The aircraft was carrying two pilots at the time of the incident. During the flight, the crew performed a stall exercise, after which the aircraft failed to maintain its altitude. This loss of altitude necessitated an immediate forced landing. During the descent, the aircraft struck terrain within a densely forested region.
Following the impact, the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter was activated. The two crew members managed to exit the wreckage on their own without needing external assistance. A search and rescue helicopter, launched from Comox Airport, eventually located the site and rescued the occupants.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events following the stall exercise and the subsequent inability of the aircraft to remain airborne. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft sustained substantial damage during the collision with the trees. While no post-crash fire occurred, the impact with the terrain was the primary event of concern. The two crew members were transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.