Sturdee Valley – Smithers

On April 4, 1991 at 01:40 PM, Sturdee Valley – Smithers experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Central Mountain Air, with the event recorded near Thutade Lake British Columbia.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 85.7%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 4, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Sturdee Valley to Smithers on behalf of a mine company. While flying at low height above Thutade Lake in poor weather conditions, a wing struck the iced surface of the lake and the aircraft crashed. A passenger was rescued while six other occupants were killed. It is understood that the crew was flying under VFR mode in heavy snow conditions when the accident occurred.

Aircraft reference details include registration C-FQNF, MSN 15198/26643, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 55.7854°, -124.7015°.