AVIATION/ TSB REPORTS ON PACIFC COASTAL 2008 CRASH

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) issued their Final report of the investigation into the cause of the crash of a PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES Gruman G21 on November 16, 2008, at South Thormanby Island, BC, Canada. At 10:13am, the G21 departed departed from the water aerodrome at the south terminal of the Vancouver International Airport, British Columbia, with 7 passengers and 1 Pilot for a flight to Powell River, British Columbia. About 19 minutes later, the G21 crashed in dense fog on South Thormanby Island, about halfway between Vancouver and Powell River. Local searchers located a seriously injured passenger on the eastern shoreline of the island at about 2:00pm. The aircraft was located about 30 minutes later, on a peak near Spyglass Hill, British Columbia. The Pilot and the 6 other passengers were killed in the crash and the aircraft was destroyed by impact and post-crash fire. The emergency locator transmitter was destroyed in the crash and did not transmit.

In their Final Report, the TSB stated the Probable Cause(s) of the crash were:
1. The Pilot likely departed and continued flight in conditions that were below visual flight rules (VFR) weather minima.
2. The Pilot continued his VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and did not recognize his proximity to terrain until seconds before colliding with Thormanby Island.
3. The indication of a marginal weather improvement at Powell River, British Columbia, and incorrect information from Merry Island, British Columbia, may have contributed to the Pilot's conclusion that weather along the route would be sufficient for a low-level flight.
The TSB noted that the Pilot was a known risk taker an often flew in bad weather. Pacific Coastal Airlines had previous concerns about the Pilot's decision-making and was worried his actions were putting pressure on other Pilots to fly in poor conditions. Before the G21 departed, visibility was reported to be 2 miles in mist and fog with cloud cover at 500 feet above ground. There was an indication of marginal weather improvement at Powell River and this, plus incorrect weather information from the Merry Island lighthouse, might have contributed to the Pilot's conclusion that weather along the route would be sufficient for a low-level flight, Yearwood said. Before leaving, the Pilot spoke to passengers and warned the flight would be at low level and if they were uncomfortable with that they need not take the flight. The report also criticized Transport Canada for not enforcing regulations that are supposed to prevent aircraft that operate under visual flight rules from flying in poor visibility. The full report can be found on the TSB website.