What happened
On the day of the accident, the aircraft was performing a scheduled visual flight rules (VFR) itinerary through several locations in British Columbia, including Terrace, Iskut, Dease Lake, and Bronson Creek. The flight began with a departure from Terrace at approximately 1005 PST. The aircraft successfully reached Iskut at 1145, departed for Dease Lake at 1155, and arrived there at 1230. Following a brief stop, the aircraft departed Dease Lake at 1250 and reached Bronson Creek at 1340.
The final leg of the journey commenced at roughly 1350, when the aircraft departed Bronson Creek for a return to Terrace. On board were the pilot and three passengers. Approximately ten minutes into this flight segment, the pilot established radio contact with another aircraft traveling from Smithers to Bronson Creek. This communication occurred near the confluence of the Iskut and Forest Kerr Rivers, roughly 20 miles east of Bronson Creek. During this exchange, the pilot reported no mechanical issues or difficulties. This interaction served as the final known contact with the aircraft.
Following the report of the aircraft as missing, both aerial and ground-based search operations were initiated. However, no emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signals were identified, and the search was eventually terminated without locating the plane. The wreckage was not discovered until 05 August 1994, nearly four years after the disappearance.
Findings
No specific cause for the disappearance was determined at the time of the search, as the wreckage was located long after the initial investigation period.