What happened
During a night-time approach to Vancouver from the north, the crew encountered low visibility conditions that contributed to an altitude error. The aircraft failed to maintain sufficient clearance and impacted the eastern slope of a mountain located near Mt Elsay, approximately 16 kilometers north of the city.
Search and rescue operations were initiated immediately but covered a vast area without success. Due to the lack of any trace of the aircraft or its occupants, these efforts were suspended after several days. The wreckage was eventually located in a remote section of the terrain on September 27, 1994, by hikers who came across the debris field.
Findings
The incident occurred during the approach phase under night conditions with reduced visibility. The primary contributing factor identified was the crew's failure to recognize that their altitude was insufficient for safe terrain clearance.