Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, an amphibious DHC-2 Beaver was being operated from the Harbour Air base at Sandspit, British Columbia, located on the Queen Charlotte Islands. The first flight of the day carried baggage from Sandspit Airport to a floating fishing resort anchored in Givenchy Bay, in the Kano Inlet on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands, 28 nautical miles west of Sandspit.
Flight Details
The aircraft departed Sandspit under visual flight rules (VFR) at 1015 Pacific daylight time (PDT) and landed at the fishing resort at 1039. The pilot took the most direct route, flying low over Yakoun Lake. Upon arrival, the pilot advised company dispatch on the company radio that the weather was quite poor along that route and that he planned to take Skidegate Channel for the return trip. After loading fish for transport to Sandspit, the aircraft departed Givenchy at 1051.
Accident Location and Timeline
When the aircraft did not arrive at Sandspit, a search was organized. The wreckage was located at 1245 at Hunter Point, about 7 nautical miles from Givenchy, at coordinates 53°15'N, 132°42'W. The accident occurred during daylight at approximately 1100. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot and passenger were fatally injured upon impact.
Investigation and Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause: The aircraft likely stalled at an altitude insufficient to permit recovery. The reason why the aircraft may have stalled could not be determined.