Vancouver - Victoria
Flight / Schedule
Vancouver - Victoria
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin OtterRegistration
C-FAJB
MSN
19
Year of Manufacture
1966
Operator
Airwest AirlinesDate
December 16, 1976 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Victoria British Columbia
Region
North America • Canada
Coordinates
48.4283°, -123.3650°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 16, 1976 at 12:00 AM, Vancouver - Victoria experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Airwest Airlines, with the event recorded near Victoria British Columbia.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
16 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 16 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 14, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Approaching Victoria on a flight from Coal Harbour in Vancouver, the crew encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions. The seaplane landed hard, causing both floats to be damaged. All 16 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft sank in the Juan de Fuca Strait, by a depth of 300 feet, about 4 miles south of Victoria Harbour.
Aircraft reference details include registration C-FAJB, MSN 19, year of manufacture 1966.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 48.4283°, -123.3650°.
Fatalities
Total
0
Crew
0
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Approaching Victoria on a flight from Coal Harbour in Vancouver, the crew encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions. The seaplane landed hard, causing both floats to be damaged. All 16 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft sank in the Juan de Fuca Strait, by a depth of 300 feet, about 4 miles south of Victoria Harbour.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
14
Estimated Survivors
16
Fatality Rate
0.0%
Known people on board: 16
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Vancouver - Victoria
Operator
Airwest AirlinesFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
North America • Canada
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF
Avro 504
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local training flight at Camp Borden Airport. The airplane crashed on takeoff. The pilot was rescued.
Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF
De Havilland DH.9
Crashed in unknown circumstances.
Canadian Aircraft Company
Avro 504
On approach to Fort Frances, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Both occupants were injured.
Bishop-Barker Aeroplanes
Curtiss HS-2L
Hit tree tops and crashed in Brooklin, north of Oshawa, Ontario. Crew fate unknown.
Vancouver Island Aerial Service
Curtiss JN-4
En route from Alert Bay to Prince Rupert, the pilot Lt Harry W. Brown encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the aircraft off Nalau Island. He survived by paddling a log into the shipping lane and was picked up by a passing Alaskan steamer. The aircraft was lost.
Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF
De Havilland DH.9
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.