Nanaimo - Port Mellon

On January 27, 1992 at 12:00 AM, Nanaimo - Port Mellon experienced a crash involving Beechcraft C18S, operated by Air Rainbow, with the event recorded near Nanaimo British Columbia.

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

9 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 77.8%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 8, passenger fatalities: 6, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. The float equipped Beechcraft C18S was chartered to carry eight workers from Nanaimo to Port Mellon. After takeoff from the Nanaimo-Cassidy seaplane base, the pilot encountered difficulties to gain height. In poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft continued at a height of about 16 metres and rolled left and right. The aircraft entered a 30° left turn, causing the left wing tip to struck the water surface. The aircraft cartwheeled, crashed, exploded and sank. Quickly on the scene, in the Strait of Georgia, fishermen were able to rescue two passengers who were seriously injured (burned) while seven other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration C-FRVR, MSN 6148, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 49.1684°, -123.9339°.