What happened
On a daylight charter flight departing from the Seal Cove floatplane base in Prince Rupert, British and Columbia, a Grumman G21A Goose, registered as C-FUMG, encountered mechanical difficulties. The aircraft was transporting one pilot, four passengers, and a load of freight and baggage. Before departing for Kincolith, the pilot had communicated with the Prince Rupert Flight Service Station to receive weather and traffic updates.
At roughly 11:41 PST, the aircraft departed from the water and began its southbound ascent. During this initial climb phase, the pilot noted that the engines were not performing as expected. The pilot subsequently contacted a company dispatcher to report engine malfunctions and indicated an intention to return to the Seal Cove base for assistance.
During the attempt to return, the left propeller ceased rotation, causing the aircraft to roll to the left and enter a steep descent. The aircraft struck trees on a hillside at an altitude of about 150 feet, located roughly three nautical miles south of the departure point. The impact resulted in two fatalities and three serious injuries among the occupants.
Findings
Following the disappearance of the aircraft, a search operation was initiated about 45 minutes after the initial departure. A Coast Guard helicopter eventually located the wreckage and successfully rescued the surviving passengers and crew.