What happened
On 21 July 1993, a Convair 580, registration C-GQHB, was operating a domestic charter flight from Vancouver to Tofino, British Columbia. The aircraft was carrying 47 passengers and four crew members. During the approach to Tofino Airport, the flight crew utilized the NDB A instrument approach procedure.
As the aircraft approached runway 28, the descent profile was unstable. The flight crew maintained an airspeed consistently above the target speed, and the aircraft was at 1,500 feet altitude at the final approach fix, which was 500 feet above the published requirement. Despite the first officer noting the airspeed deviation twice, the captain elected to continue the landing. The aircraft touched down near the middle of the 5,000-foot runway with insufficient distance remaining to stop. The aircraft subsequently ran off the end of the runway, coming to rest 150 feet past the threshold. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, there were no injuries among the passengers or crew.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight crew's approach profile, the aircraft's technical configuration, and the operational oversight of the carrier. Investigators noted that the aircraft lacked an anti-skid braking system and an intercom between the pilots, which made cockpit communication difficult due to ambient noise.
Data from the flight data recorder indicated the aircraft experienced a bounce upon touchdown, followed by a float of approximately 550 to 700 feet, exacerbated by a tailwind. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's familiarity with the airport, noting it was only the captain's second landing at this location. Furthermore, the Board looked into the adequacy of the air carrier's monitoring of its remote operations and the regulatory oversight provided by Transport Canada.