What happened
On 18 December 2023, a Grumman G-21A Goose, registered as C-GDDJ, departed from Bella Bella (Campbell Island) Airport in British Columbia. The aircraft, operated by Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd., was conducting a flight under visual flight rules toward Port Hardy Airport with one pilot and four passengers on board.
Shortly after the departure from the runway, the aircraft suffered a dual engine failure. This loss of power prevented the aircraft from maintaining its flight altitude. The pilot issued a Mayday distress call via radio before the plane struck terrain a short distance from the departure point. Following the impact, the pilot and all four passengers successfully exited the wreckage and reached a nearby road, where they were picked up by a vehicle and taken to a hospital. All five occupants sustained minor injuries, though the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the loss of power in both engines during the initial climb phase of the flight.