Vancouver - Saturna Island

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.

Flight / Schedule

Vancouver - Saturna Island

Registration

C-GPBO

MSN

100

Year of Manufacture

1968

Date

December 1, 1977 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Narvaez Bay (Saturna Island) British Columbia

Region

North America • Canada

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On December 1, 1977 at 12:00 AM, Vancouver - Saturna Island experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Airwest Airlines, with the event recorded near Narvaez Bay (Saturna Island) British Columbia.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

14 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 14 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: 12, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration C-GPBO, MSN 100, year of manufacture 1968.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

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.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

12

Estimated Survivors

14

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 14

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Vancouver - Saturna Island

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

North America • Canada

Aircraft Details

Registration

C-GPBO

MSN

100

Year of Manufacture

1968