What happened
During a flight originating from Coal Harbour in Vancouver, a seaplane was performing an approach toward Victoria when the crew encountered significantly reduced visibility caused by fog. Upon attempting to land, the aircraft struck the water with enough force to compromise the structural integrity of both floats.
Following the impact, the vessel began to submerge in the Juan de Fuca Strait, approximately 4 miles south of Victoria Harbour. The aircraft eventually settled on the seabed at a depth of roughly 300 feet. Despite the severity of the impact and the subsequent sinking, all 16 occupants were successfully evacuated from the aircraft without injury.
Findings
- The primary factor leading to the incident was limited visibility due to fog during the approach phase.
- The force of the landing resulted in the simultaneous failure of both floats.