2 fatalities

1968-08-08: Consolidated PBY Catalina (CF-FFY) — The Flying Fireman — Jarvis Lake, Canada

Jarvis Lake, CanadaFlight

On August 8, 1968, a Consolidated PBY Catalina (registration CF-FFY) operated by The Flying Fireman was involved in an aviation accident near Jarvis Lake, Canada in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew misjudged the aircraft's altitude while flying at a low height. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781238563Data APIEditorial standards

A low-altitude collision with trees resulted in the deaths of both pilots during a BC Forest Service firefighting operation.

What happened

During an aerial firefighting mission conducted for the BC Forest Service, an aircraft crashed into a forested area near Jarvis Lake. The flight was operating at a low altitude as part of its mission to combat wildfires in the region.

While maneuvering through the terrain, the airplane made contact with trees, leading to a fatal impact. The accident resulted in two fatalities, claiming the lives of both the pilot and the co-pilot involved in the operation.

Findings

Official investigations into the crash concluded that the primary factor was a misjudgement of altitude by the crew during the low-level flight operations.

Probable cause

The crew misjudged the aircraft's altitude while flying at a low height.