What happened
During an afternoon flight from Bridge River to Vancouver, a single-engine airplane was operating as an air ambulance to transport a critically ill patient and a nurse. The flight also included two additional passengers traveling back to the city following a weekend trip.
While the aircraft was cruising in the vicinity north of Squamish, the pilot encountered adverse weather conditions. Operating beneath the cloud layer, the aircraft struck trees and crashed within a forested region of the Cheakamus Canyon, situated approximately 30 km north of Squamish near Garibaldi Lake. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. All five occupants on board were killed in the accident.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor in the crash was controlled flight into terrain.