Air transportation safety investigation A24P0107

Table of contents

    Hard landing on water
    Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd.
    Cessna A185F, C-GBTJ
    Warner Bay, British Columbia

    The occurrence

    On 02 October 2024, a Cessna A185F aircraft operated by Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd. departed Port Hardy Water Aerodrome, British Columbia (BC), en route to a logging camp in Warner Bay, BC, with one pilot and two passengers on board.

    During the landing phase, the aircraft made contact with the water, and the pilot lost control. The aircraft came to rest with the fuselage under water.

    The pilot and one passenger were able to egress; however, the second passenger was unable to and was fatally injured. The aircraft sustained significant damage. The TSB is investigating.

    Investigation information

    Map showing the location of the occurrence

    A24P0107

    Hard landing on water
    Wilderness Seaplanes Ltd.
    Cessna A185F, C-GBTJ
    Warner Bay, British Columbia

      Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.

    Class of investigation

    This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.

    TSB investigation process

    There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation

    1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
    2. Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
    3. Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.

    For more information, see our Investigation process page.

    The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.