Fatal water landing involving Cessna A185F near Port Hardy

Casualties unknown • Warner Bay, British Columbia, CA

A single fatality occurred when a Cessna A185F operated by Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd. lost control during a water landing near Port Hardy, British Columbia.

What happened

On 02 October 2024, a Cessna A185F was performing a flight from Port Hardy Water Aerodrome, British Columbia, toward a logging camp located in Warner Bay, BC. The aircraft, operated by Wilderness Seaplan and Ltd., was carrying one pilot and two passengers at the time of the incident.

As the aircraft was in its landing phase, it made contact with the water surface. Following this contact, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, causing the fuselage to submerge under the water. While the pilot and one of the passengers managed to exit the aircraft, a second passenger was unable to escape and sustained fatal injuries.

The investigation

The TSB is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the loss of control during the landing sequence and the subsequent submersion of the aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2024-10-02 Cessna A185F, C-GBTJ accident near Warner Bay, British Columbia, CA?

A single fatality occurred when a Cessna A185F operated by Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd. lost control during a water landing near Port Hardy, British Columbia.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2024-10-02 involved a Cessna A185F, C-GBTJ, operated by Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd., at Warner Bay, British Columbia, CA.

Loading the flight search…