What happened
On the morning of the accident, a Douglas DC-3C, registration C-GWUG, was performing a cargo mission for Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd. under charter to Purolator Courier Ltd. Originally scheduled for a route between Vancouver and Nanaimo, the flight (KFA300) was rerouted to include a stop in Victoria due to weather-related delays affecting a connecting Boeing 727 in Ontario. The flight crew received updated instructions and flight plans prior to departure.
Upon contacting air traffic control, the pilot opted to cancel the original instrument flight rules (IFR) plan and instead operated under visual flight rules (VFR). The aircraft departed Vancouver's runway 26L at 0622 Pacific standard time. During the initial climb, the pilot requested and was granted an altitude of 1000 feet above sea level. After departing the Vancouver control zone at 0626, the aircraft entered Class E airspace.
As the flight progressed toward the Gulf Islands, the aircraft maintained a ground speed of approximately 130 knots. Radar tracking showed the aircraft passing near the Active Pass non-directional beacon at 0632 while maintaining an altitude of 900 feet. Shortly after, the aircraft experienced a brief descent to 800 feet. The final radar contact placed the aircraft at 900 feet, 21.8 nautical miles from the Sea Island radar source, which coincided with the site of the fatal crash.
Findings
- The flight was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) following a route change necessitated by weather delays elsewhere in the network.
- The aircraft was performing a cargo-only mission as part of a scheduled logistics route.