High Lake – Desolation Lake

On August 29, 1958 at 05:45 PM, High Lake – Desolation Lake experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, operated by Pacific Western Airlines - PWA, with the event recorded near High Lake Northwest Territories.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a plain, valley crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 3, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The single engine aircraft took off from High Lake at 1745LT on a non-scheduled charter flight to Desolation Lake with a pilot and three geologists aboard. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and later, during the same day, it was reported missing. The wreckage was found on 30 August approximately 2 miles south of High Lake. All four occupants had been killed in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration CF-GIX, MSN 16, year of manufacture 1948.