1 fatality

Floatplane Stalls During Takeoff from Confined Lake (C-GVHS)

Bonner Lake, CanadaTakeoff (climb)

On June 21, 1983, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver (registration C-GVHS) operated by Central Air Transport - Canada was involved in an aviation accident near Bonner Lake, Canada during takeoff. One person was killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A floatplane stalled during takeoff from a confined lake after the pilot initiated a climb before reaching safe speed, while the aircraft was near maximum weight in high temperature conditions.

Incident Overview

A takeoff attempt from a confined lake ended in a stall when the pilot began climbing before the aircraft had reached a safe speed. The aircraft, operating near its maximum weight under high ambient temperatures, had been progressing on the step as planned. The pilot had established a predetermined go/no-go point and assessed that the takeoff would be successful. However, after initiating the climb prematurely, the aircraft failed to accelerate properly.

Sequence of Events

To avoid rising terrain ahead, the pilot executed a right turn. During the turn, the aircraft mushed and subsequently stalled while still over the lake surface. The passengers later reported that due to a lack of available seats, they had been seated on top of the cargo during the flight.

Contributing Conditions

The confined nature of the lake, the high temperature, and the aircraft's near-maximum weight were present conditions. The pilot's decision to climb before reaching a safe speed led to insufficient acceleration. The subsequent turn to avoid terrain resulted in a loss of lift, culminating in the stall.

Aftermath

The aircraft came to rest on the lake surface following the stall. No further details regarding damage or injuries were provided in the source.