What happened
On the morning of 10 October 2016, a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver equipped with amphibious floats departed from Vanderhoof Airport, British Columbia. The aircraft, registered as C-GEWG, was conducting a daytime flight under visual flight rules toward Laidman Lake with a total of five people on board, including the pilot and four passengers.
Roughly 24 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft collided with the ground approximately 11 nautical miles east of the intended destination. Upon impact, the aircraft's 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was triggered, allowing the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system to detect the distress signal. This activation prompted the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria to launch a search-and-rescue mission. During the aftermath, one passenger successfully contacted emergency services via a mobile phone.
The accident resulted in one fatality and several injuries. The pilot died at the scene, while two passengers suffered serious injuries and the remaining two passengers sustained minor wounds. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact, though no fire occurred following the crash.
Findings
- The aircraft struck terrain during the flight phase.