What happened
On a flight departing from Lyall Harbour on Saturna Island, a Seair Seaplanes Beaver attempted to reach the Vancouver International Airport water aerodrome. During the departure sequence, the pilot initially attempted a downwind takeoff, which was unsuccessful. Following this, the pilot initiated a takeoff into the wind, heading back toward Lyall Harbour.
At roughly 1603 Pacific Standard Time, the aircraft reached flight altitude but failed to clear the nearby terrain. During the flight, the aircraft executed a left turn before descending into the water. Although bystanders arrived at the scene quickly to assist, the aircraft's cabin had already submerged beneath the surface. There were 8 persons on board the aircraft during the accident. The pilot and one adult passenger survived the impact, both sustaining serious injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft remained at an altitude below the surrounding landscape during the flight.
- The emergency locator transmitter failed to emit a detectable signal following the impact.