What happened
On 20 June 2023, a Quest Kodiak 100 amphibious aircraft, registered as C-GKTX, departed from Masset Airport in British Columbia. The flight was originally planned under instrument flight rules for Tofino/Long Beach Airport, carrying one pilot and three passengers. During the journey, the pilot requested to cancel the IFR flight plan and proceeded under visual flight rules toward a remote cabin located roughly 60 nautical miles northwest of the original destination.
While navigating the Tahsis Narrows toward the final destination, the pilot attempted a straight-in landing on the water. During the initial touchdown, both floats hit the water at the same time. The aircraft bounced, and during a second pass in a level attitude, the left float struck an object or a boat wake. This impact caused the aircraft to bank sharply to the right and rise to an altitude of about 30 feet.
In response to the disturbance, the pilot attempted a go-around. However, during the subsequent climb over land, the aircraft struck trees and crashed into the terrain. The accident resulted in two fatalities and two injuries, with one passenger sustaining serious injuries and another receiving minor injuries. A fire broke out following the impact, and the aircraft was completely destroyed.
Findings
An investigation into the sequence of events indicates that the impact of the left float with an object or boat wake during the water landing attempt destabilized the aircraft, leading to the subsequent loss of control during the climb phase.