Bella Bella - Babine Lake

While cruising at an altitude of 4,200 feet over mountainous area, the crew elected to gain height but the decision was too late. The airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located about 80 km northeast of Bella Coola. A passenger was killed while 18 other occupants were injured.

Flight / Schedule

Bella Bella - Babine Lake

Registration

C-FAWF

MSN

67

Year of Manufacture

1967

Date

September 22, 1976 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Mosher Creek British Columbia

Region

North America • Canada

Coordinates

52.4028°, -125.9586°

Narrative Report

On September 22, 1976 at 12:00 AM, Bella Bella - Babine Lake experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Airwest Airlines, with the event recorded near Mosher Creek British Columbia.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

19 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 18 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 5.3%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

While cruising at an altitude of 4,200 feet over mountainous area, the crew elected to gain height but the decision was too late. The airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located about 80 km northeast of Bella Coola. A passenger was killed while 18 other occupants were injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration C-FAWF, MSN 67, year of manufacture 1967.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 52.4028°, -125.9586°.

Fatalities

Total

1

Crew

0

Passengers

1

Other

0

Crash Summary

While cruising at an altitude of 4,200 feet over mountainous area, the crew elected to gain height but the decision was too late. The airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located about 80 km northeast of Bella Coola. A passenger was killed while 18 other occupants were injured.

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

17

Estimated Survivors

18

Fatality Rate

5.3%

Known people on board: 19

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Bella Bella - Babine Lake

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

North America • Canada

Aircraft Details

Registration

C-FAWF

MSN

67

Year of Manufacture

1967