What happened
On a flight scheduled from a gravel airstrip near the Northern Rockies Lodge at Muncho Lake toward Prince George, British Columbia, a de Havilland DHC-6-100 Twin Otter (registration C-FAWC) experienced a sequence of impacts shortly after departure. While operating under visual flight rules, the aircraft initiated a right-hand turn after becoming airborne. During this maneuver, the right outboard flap hanger made contact with the Alaska Highway.
Following this initial contact, the aircraft struck a telephone cable and a utility pole. The aircraft then hit the edge of the highway a second time before ultimately crashing into a rocky embankment situated next to a dry creek bed. The wreckage came to an upright position roughly 600 feet from the end of the departure runway. A heavy fire broke out following the impact, which completely destroyed the airframe.
Findings
The accident resulted in one fatality and several injuries. Among the occupants, one passenger died from burn injuries, the pilot sustained serious burns, and the second pilot suffered significant impact-related injuries. The remaining two passengers on board escaped with minor injuries. The primary factor in the sequence of events was the contact between the aircraft's flap hanger and the highway during the initial turn.