Vancouver

The DC-3 aircraft, with the captain, first officer, and an apprentice aircraft maintenance engineer on board, was to be ferried from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Whitehorse, Yukon. Just after take-off from runway 08, as the first officer was setting the engine power, the right propeller began to over-speed. The captain told the first officer to shut down and feather the right engine. The first officer did as instructed, and advised the Vancouver tower controller of the engine problem and that they would return to the airport to land on runway 08. The captain turned the aircraft to the right, onto downwind for runway 08; however, because the aircraft's altitude and airspeed were decreasing, the first officer advised the tower controller that they would land on runway 30. The aircraft continued to lose height, narrowly avoiding buildings in its path, and crashed to the ground, one mile short of runway 30. The three occupants were seriously injured during the impact and the post-crash fire; the captain died of his injuries eight days after the accident.

On 11 January 1995, at 0035 Pacific standard time (PST), the twin-engine Learjet 35 departed Vancouver International Airport, British Columbia, on a night, instrument flight rules (IFR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) flight to the Masset aerodrome, on the northern end of the Queen Charlotte Islands. On board the Learjet were a flight crew of two pilots, and a medical team consisting of two attendants and a doctor. Their mission was to evacuate a patient from Masset and deliver her to Prince Rupert for treatment; the aircraft was then to return to Vancouver. The flight-planned route was at flight level (FL) 390, direct to Sandspit then direct to Masset. Following routine communications with Air Traffic Services (ATS), at about 0144, the aircraft reported "outbound" from the Masset non-directional beacon (NDB) on the published NDB "A" instrument approach procedure to runway 12. Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar, situated near Sandspit, tracked the aircraft as it flew the approach. Radar data shows that the aircraft began a descent about 10 seconds after it had completed the procedure turn and was established on the final inbound approach track. Forty-three seconds later, at a point 8.8 nautical miles (nm) from the threshold of runway 12 and on the final, inbound track, the aircraft disappeared from radar. Department of National Defence (DND) Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft began searching the area shortly after the aircraft was declared missing, and were later assisted by other private and military aircraft and vessels. On the second day of the search, flotsam from the aircraft was found in the area. Extensive underwater searching using sonar and underwater cameras found the aircraft wreckage on 31 January 1995, in 260 feet of water, near the last known position. The aircraft had been destroyed. The bodies of two occupants were found several days after the accident, but the other three occupants have not been found and are presumed to have been fatally injured. The accident occurred at latitude 54/08NN and longitude 131/58NW, at about 0149 PST, during the hours of darkness in unknown weather conditions.

The pilot was supposed to proceed under VFR mode to the west but as weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds, he decided to continue to the south. While flying between two mountains, the single engine aircraft encountered atmospheric turbulences and the pilot elected to return when the aircraft lost height and struck trees. Upon impact, both wings were torn off and the aircraft crashed in a wooded area. All 11 occupants were injured, four of them seriously.

A Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III passenger plane, operating as Skylink Flight 070 was destroyed in accident at Terrace Airport, BC (YXT), Canada. All five passengers and two crew members were killed. Flight 070 took off from Vancouver, BC (YVR) at 06:51 on a scheduled domestic flight to Terrace, BC. At 08:20 Flight 070 was cleared for an approach at Terrace. At 08:27, at an altitude of 1,200 feet asl and just prior to reaching the published missed approach point (MAP), the captain stated "OK, I got the button here." Fourteen seconds after this, the captain saw the button of runway 27. At approximately this same time, the aircraft was observed on what corresponded to a downwind leg for runway 15 at about 500 feet above ground level (agl), flying straight and level over the threshold of runway 27, with the landing gear down. The aircraft crossed the localizer transmitter at an altitude of 1,100 feet asl and at an airspeed of 140 knots. Approximately 30 seconds after crossing the localizer transmitter, the aircraft commenced a descent out of 1,100 feet, and the flaps were lowered to the full position. The aircraft then levelled at an altitude of approximately 900 feet. At or about this same time, the aircraft was observed on base leg for runway 15 at a low altitude, close to the east/west ridge located about 1.5 miles north of the airport. Twenty-six seconds after full flap was selected, a missed approach was initiated, and the landing gear and flaps were selected up. Within five seconds of the initiation of the missed approach, the aircraft began to accelerate and a rate of climb of approximately 1,200 feet per minute was established. This rate of climb quickly diminished to zero, followed by the start of a descent which quickly increased to 3,000 feet per minute. As the aircraft descended, the co-pilot called "descending" twice. A few seconds later, the aircraft struck trees on the west side of runway 15 just inside the airport perimeter. A second and final impact with the ground occurred just outside the airport perimeter approximately 800 feet from the initial tree strike. A fire erupted following the ground impact. The airplane was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.

Flight 106 was a scheduled service from Vancouver to Powell River with an intermediate stop at Sechelt. The flight to Sechelt was uneventful. While approaching Porpoise Bay at Sechelt, at an altitude of 200 feet, the twin engine airplane rolled to the right in an angle of 90° then nosed down and crashed on the east shore of the bay, about 50 meters from the water. The captain and a passenger were killed while 14 other occupants were injured, four of them seriously.

Twin Otter C-FAIV, operating as a scheduled VFR flight, departed Victoria Harbour at 1718LT with Vancouver Harbour water-aerodrome as destination. The estimated time en route was 20 minutes. The flight proceeded normally and reported by Active Pass at 2,000 feet. This altitude was maintained in order to cross the Vancouver Control Zone in accordance with standard procedure; once out of the control zone, a slow descent was begun towards Vancouver Harbour. Normal radio procedures were followed as the flight reported by standard visual reporting points. Just before joining final approach, the transmission, "AIV, Third Beach", was made and landing clearance was given to the flight by the Harbour Tower. The approach continued, and when the aircraft reached approximately 175 feet above the surface, nine ground witnesses heard a loud noise from the aircraft. Two surviving witnesses also heard a noise. Power was subsequently applied and C-FAIV yawed left, rolled in the same direction and plunged into the harbour in a left-wing and nose-down attitude, 2 500 feet from the intended landing area. An ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) tone was heard by the tower controller 54 seconds after the radio call at Third Beach. The controller called the aircraft several times but there was no response. The flight had been of 24 minutes duration. Both pilots and nine passengers were killed while two others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

While approaching Saturna Island, the crew encountered marginal weather and a limited visibility. Descending to a height of about 200-300 feet, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops with one of its float. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames in a wooded area located near Narvaez Bay. All 14 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

On final approach to Vancouver Airport, the left engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed about 1,200 meters short of runway threshold. There were no casualties.

The flight was a VFR scheduled flight from Tofino to Vancouver. The airplane was carrying 10 passengers and one pilot. While cruising southwest of Nanaimo, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with a cloud ceiling at 2,800 feet. The airplane entered a valley then the pilot attempted a steep right turn at 45° when the airplane impacted trees and crashed in hilly terrain some 5 km west of Mt Hooper. The airplane was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
J. R. Ferguson, pilot.

The Convair approached Campbell River with the weather just above minima (2-2,5 miles visibility, 400 feet broken ceiling and wind 110 degrees with gusts to 20 mph. The crew positioned the aircraft visually 2nm south of the airfield on a westerly heading preparatory to attempting an approach to the west. This would involve a right hand circuit flown above the broken south and west of the airport employing DME and ADF information. This improvised approach was not in accordance with published approach procedures under instrument conditions. After flying for 1 minute and 40 seconds the crew turned right. A few seconds after the captain expressed concern, the Convair struck a 1047 feet hill at 932 feet.