What happened
On a flight from Atlin, BC, to Dease Lake, a Beaver aircraft carrying one pilot and five passengers departed under visual flight rules at 16:18 PDT. After arriving over the Dease Lake area at 17:35, the aircraft traveled along the eastern shore of the lake. As the plane approached an area roughly one mile from the southern end of the lake, it began a southward turn to initiate a landing in the center of the water.
During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a steep, continuous descent and impacted the surface of the lake. The impact caused the plane to nose over, leaving only the lower portion of the fuselage above the waterline. While the fuselage remained buoyant for approximately ten minutes, it eventually submerged in water measuring 120 feet deep. The pilot sustained serious injuries and managed to escape the wreckage, but all five passengers remained inside the aircraft and succumbed to drowning.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the surface of the lake was in a glassy-water state at the time of the accident. The primary factor was that the pilot failed to identify these conditions or employ the appropriate landing technique for smooth water.
Additional details from the investigation include:
- The aircraft struck the water while in a nose-down attitude and at a high rate of descent.
- The emergency briefing provided to passengers before takeoff was insufficient for preparing them for an aquatic evacuation.
- There were no mechanical failures, airframe issues, or system malfunctions detected.
- The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within legal limits.
- All regulatory requirements regarding pilot certification, aircraft maintenance, and equipment were met.