The pilot and a passenger of a float plane that overturned while landing in a bay northeast of Port Hardy tried “heroically” to free the other passenger, but were unable to save him from drowning, says the operations manager for the company involved.
Vince Crooks of Port Hardy-based Wilderness Seaplanes said witnesses saw the Cessna 185, which was heading to a logging camp in the area, had turned upside down after landing in Warner Bay about 4 p.m. Wednesday.
“It sounded like an otherwise normal landing except it looked like one float dug fairly deep, which causes it to tend to nose over,” Crooks said. “I don’t think it actually flipped over. I think the wing caught and it more cartwheeled.”
He said one of the passengers was able to get out quickly and helped the pilot to escape.
The pair then worked for “a long period of time” to try to free the other person, and were joined by others who had rushed to help, Crooks said.
“There was also a boat there almost immediately and they all tried very hard to get the other person out.”
A military search-and-rescue team arrived at the scene about 48 kilometres from Port Hardy within an hour and recovered the body.
Crooks said the cause of the crash is still unknown.
“We do know that the weather was not a factor and there was no indication of mechanical failure,” he said in a statement. “All our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies go out to the family of our passenger and to all those affected by this terrible accident.”
He said the company will do whatever it can to help with the investigation of the crash, which was “very traumatic” for the survivors.
He said the pilot is well-respected in Port Hardy and has about 30 years of experience with float planes all over the world.
“The pilot has worked for our company several times over her long career and lives in the area, and has worked at another local airline here for many years.”
Port Hardy RCMP are continuing to investigate along with the Transportation Safety Board and the B.C. Coroners Service.
No further information from investigators was immediately available.
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