Accident Overview
On the evening of the accident, a turbine-engine DHC-3 Otter equipped with floats departed Tasu, British Columbia, at approximately 1940 Pacific daylight saving time. The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) on a charter flight to Alliford Bay, located 26 nautical miles to the north. The pilot and two passengers were on board.
Search and Wreckage
When the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, the operator initiated a search. The wreckage was located the following day, approximately 18 nautical miles south of Alliford Bay, in rugged terrain at an elevation of 1,700 feet above sea level. The aircraft was destroyed, and there were no survivors.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was that the pilot probably made a navigational error because of restricted visibility in fog and light drizzle and entered the wrong valley. Additionally, the pilot delayed his decision to reverse course until he was unable to avoid the weather.